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“For weeks before the presidential election, the gurus of public opinion polling were nearly unanimous in their findings. In survey after survey, they agreed that the coming choice between President Jimmy Carter and Challenger Ronald Reagan was “too close to call.” A few points at most, they said, separated the two major contenders. But when the votes were counted, the former California Governor had defeated Carter by a margin of 51% to 41% in the popular vote—a rout for a U.S. presidential race.”
– Time Magazine (Dec. 1, 1980)
The situation in 1980 was very bleak for Americans. Inflation was nearing 20%. The Iran hostage crisis was taking hold. The economy was slowing down. The feeling of malaise was everywhere and rampant. Carter's poll numbers were actually decent going into the last weeks of October.
A repeat of 1980 is very unlikely (you honestly think California will go R? The California of the 1960s - 1980s is very different than today). However, the formula is the same for a Romney victory - Americans must express discontent with the status quo, have uneasy feelings about the (near) future, and relinquish trust in this administration. Economic numbers and foreign affairs will drive this feeling, especially closer to election day.
I expect a narrow margin of victory for the winner, whoever it will be. That is, I think the winner will get under 300 EVs.
Obamalems, you should be very, very frightened. Your time is coming to a close.
How many times must I repeat this?
Ronald Reagen was a handsome, charismatic actor.
Mitt Romney has all the charisma of a man who puts his dog on the car roof for long rides.
Oh, and by the way, in 1980 the GOP was not overrun by religious (or wannabe) zealots who would rather take on social issues as opposed to the economy.
And have you seen the demographics of the 1980's compared to now?
But, keep telling yourself this is just like 1980. Go right ahead.
Obamalems, you should be very, very frightened. Your time is coming to a close.
Unlike you and many other Obama haters who post here, I was old enough to vote in the 1980 election. I followed it closely. The feeling for months ahead of November was that Reagan had it in the bag. Especially after the GOP convention that summer.
What many of you rookies don't realize yet is that it is in the best interests of the media and the pollsters to publish results making it "look close" in order to keep public interest high. It's their lead-in story every day. They can't afford to start being realistic and saying things like, "this one's all but decided already."
And for your info, I voted for Reagan. Both times.
Its not 1980 again, and Obama is not Jimmy Carter, that being said, he will probably win, but Romney can win if the economy continues to slow down as it has the last few weeks. I expect a 2 point margin of victory for whoever wins.
Someone with great economic credentials would probably be a great challenger, Romney is not that man. Even though the economy gets worse, Romney won't be taking the White House.
People are talking like Romney is some Guru. People are not dumb enough to change ship mid Ocean like this, especially with an untested Captain. If we didn't have term limits Bush would be running for term 4 now and be leading the pack too.
Romney will get his butt handed to him and Santorum will be laughing all the way to 2016.
Poor Obama haters are forced go back 32 years to get a bit of good news and hope for this election....LOL
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Your time is coming to a close.
FLASHBACK: Presidential Polls in the Summer of 1980
