Oct. 9, 1980, Carter led Reagan by 8 points, Reagan lost 16pt lead in July

[Doosh]

just keep this in mind, despite the media going ga-ga over the Bush bounce, there is still plenty of time yet and absolutely no reason to push the panic button. I feel alot more comfortable with Carville, Greenberg, Lockhart etc. on board. Kerry did not wait to long, he's an experienced politician and has won every race that he was supposed to lose! The changes were made at the right time and now Kerry is going to close this sucker out!!!!

[LiberalBushFan]

1. Who's Anderson?

(Not too up on history) Looks like he was Nader x10.

[DaveinMD]

3. Anderson

was part of an extinct animal. The moderate Republican.

[LiberalBushFan]

4. Funny that he stole votes only from Carter, then.

Reagan went down by 0 when he entered while Carter lost 18.

[Doosh]

6. he was way to the left of Reagan, and had (D) Patrick Lucey as his VP

so it was a true unity ticket.

liberal on social and foreign issues, conservative economically.

[David__77]

7. If Kennedy has defeated Carter, Anderson would have withdrawn.,

Isn't that interesting? Anderson himseld said it, that he'd support Ted Kennedy if he defeated Carter in the primaries. I do honestly believe that Kennedy would have defeated Reagan. It's mostly irrelevant now, but I do wish that Carter would have stepped aside. His economic policies, especially those of his appointee Paul Volcker, led the way for Reagan's fascist insurgence.

[Doosh]

5. moderate repug, ran as an independent though

got 6.6% of the vote, over 5.7 million votes nationwide

[LTR]

10. John Anderson

Here's a quick history lesson. Don't worry - his name hasn't come up much in the past two decades. He's still alive, though.

http://www.geocities.com/dave_enrich/ctd/3p.anderson.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/interviews/anderson.html

http://www.fact-index.com/j/jo/john_bayard_anderson.html



John Bayard Anderson (born February 15, 1922) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois and presidential candidate in the 1980 election.

(snip)

In 1980, Anderson entered the Republican primary for the U.S. presidential election, in a crowded field that included Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. That spring, he dropped out of the primary race to run as an independent candidate for the fall general election. His poll numbers surged early, but waned before the election, and Anderson received only 7% of the vote in the election. His inability to overcome the spoiler effect in that election would later lead him to become an advocate for Instant Runoff Voting.

He then became a visiting professor at series of universities: Stanford University, University of Illinois College of Law, Brandeis University, Bryn Mawr College, Oregon State University, University of Massachusetts, and Nova Southeastern University (his most recent post). He has also served as Chair of the Center for Voting and Democracy from 1996 to the present day (as of this writing in 2002), and as President of the World Federalist Association.

[LiberalBushFan]

11. Thanks n/m

[DaveinMD]

2. excellent post

I've said all along, this election will follow the path of that election.

[Leilani]

8. Reagan/Carter is probably the closest election to current

however, a few differences:

Carter, as an incumbent Prez had a primary challenger, Ted Kennedy.
This fractured the Carter base; there were bad feelings left, & the Dem party did not truly unite.

Look at the graph numbers: Carter is below 50% in March & never recovers. Carter was seen as a weak, ineffective President.

Reagan was feared as a Dr.Strangelove type. The debates won the election for Reagan. People did not see a scary character...in fact, he was very likeable. His question, {Are you better off now, than you were 4 years ago?} was devestating.

My summary: although Bush is stronger than Carter, his policies are still seen as ineffective. Kerry as the challenger, still has not made his case; there is plenty of time left. Finally, the debates could be crucial...Kerry must be seen as capable & likeable. People need to feel it is OK to change the Prez at this time.

[snippy]

9. I agree completely. n/t