I just checked out some sites at "US support for Iran-Iraq war".
Saddam began the war on Sept 22, 1980. President Reagan was elected 7 weeks later. In June of 1982, when it appeared that Iran might be winning, the decision was made for us to support Iraq as the lesser of two evils. George Bush, Sr. as the Vice President and former director of the CIA was very active in this behind the scenes.
Subsequently, both countries attacked shipping in the Persian Gulf and by 1987 a number of countries had had enough. Some 500 ships were damaged and over 300 seaman killed in this phase called "the battle of the tankers". There is a lot more interesting stuff, but it is after 3 am and I am going to bed now.
My original point was that the left has repeatedly said that it was Ronald Wilson Reagan that convinced saddam to attack Iran. As you stated in your post the war started seven weeks before the 1980 election, and almost four months before the Reagan Administration was sworn in. I have heard of the infamous so-called October surprise, but this has to be Reagans' "September Surprise" if one is to believe this story concocted by the left.