In December of 1979, Reagan was not the front runner.
Nope!
In fact, a poll in January 1980 showed Carter waaaaaay up on Reagan, by about 30 points.
I believe Carter was ahead for most of the campaign. That's where "October Surprise" comes from- Reagan's surge ahead a month before the election.
I'm not sure that's true, Tchash.
Gallup seems to think that it is.
Carter was up 8 at the dawn of October!
Boss, your chart shows my memory was perfect. Carter was ahead earlier in the year, Reagan took the lead in the summer, it tightened up after Labor Day, and Reagan broke ahead at the very end. Did you read my post before you rushed to disagree with me?
You actually remember all this stuff? For some reason I always had you down as being slightly younger, like in your late 20s... but it's always good to have someone who experienced all this stuff first-hand.
