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Election Could Mirror 1980 Race
Townhall ^ | Sep 27, 2012 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 09/27/2012 11:33:34 AM PDT by kingattax

There was only one presidential debate in 1980 between challenger Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter. Just two days before the Oct. 28 debate, Carter was eight points ahead in the Gallup poll.

A week after the debate, he lost to Reagan by nearly ten percentage points.

Reagan's debate quip, "There you go again," reminded voters of Carter's chronic crabbiness. Even more devastating was Reagan's final, direct question to American voters: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

No one, it seemed, could muster a "Yes!" Yet there was more to the 1980 campaign than the final game-changing debate rhetoric -- and some of the details are relevant to 2012.

(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
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1 posted on 09/27/2012 11:33:41 AM PDT by kingattax
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To: kingattax

Here’s hoping.


2 posted on 09/27/2012 11:35:15 AM PDT by whitey righty
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To: kingattax

obviously we hope to repeat 1980.

problem is, this is starting to get the feel of 1992, 1996, and 2008.


3 posted on 09/27/2012 11:36:07 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: kingattax
"You won't have Barack Obama to kick around anymore!"


4 posted on 09/27/2012 11:37:43 AM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: kingattax

How could it mirror the 1980 race, when Ronald Reagan was an actual conservative, unlike Mitt Romney?


5 posted on 09/27/2012 11:38:38 AM PDT by johnthebaptistmoore (The world continues to be stuck in a "all leftist, all of the time" funk. BUNK THE FUNK!)
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To: kingattax
"the race between an unapologetic liberal and a confessed conservative will go down to the last week."

I love VDH, but "conservative?"

BARF!

Romney's a Socialist. He's just our Socialist, a little more centrist than 0bambi. That's much better. Just don't put lipstick on a pig and expect me to kiss it.

6 posted on 09/27/2012 11:41:50 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (You didn't build that. The private sector is doing fine. We tried our plan and it worked.)
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To: ConservativeDude

no bumper stickers.
(i’ve seen 3. and i live in an 80% Obama county.)
-
lots of people saying they voted for Obama in 2008,
and won’t now.
-
...do you know ANYONE saying the opposite?
one real person?
-
Obama is down in EVERY demographic. even college students.
he’s down over 20% with Catholics and Jews.


7 posted on 09/27/2012 11:42:05 AM PDT by Elendur (It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. - Thomas Jefferson)
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To: ConservativeDude
Where are the Romney commercials? In SC I see five times as many Obama commercials as Romney commercials. I know SC is not a battle ground state, but ads in SC might impact NC. Anyone in a state where Romney commercials outnumber Obama commercials? I hope this is just rope a dope, but I am getting worried.
8 posted on 09/27/2012 11:42:42 AM PDT by LongViewSC
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To: kingattax

I would like to see a repeat of the GOP victories in 1972 or 1984.


9 posted on 09/27/2012 11:44:02 AM PDT by Trapped Behind Enemy Lines
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To: johnthebaptistmoore

Obama is far worse than J Carter....


10 posted on 09/27/2012 11:44:41 AM PDT by Leto
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To: kingattax

One minor little problem with that analysis: Romney ain’t Reagan.


11 posted on 09/27/2012 11:50:53 AM PDT by Daveinyork
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To: Uncle Miltie

Look at it this way with Romney and Ryan you got a great VP that might be president someday, but with Obama and Biden you have two terrible idiots. Romney won’t be perfect, but he will be 1000% better than Obama.


12 posted on 09/27/2012 11:54:06 AM PDT by LongViewSC
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To: johnthebaptistmoore

Also, unlike Romney, Reagan was downright likeable and endearing.


13 posted on 09/27/2012 11:58:45 AM PDT by tirednvirginia
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To: Daveinyork

Also keep in Mind Reagan wasn’t loved by every republican until after the 1980 landslide. I was a huge fan, but there were many republicans that doubted his ability to win.


14 posted on 09/27/2012 11:58:58 AM PDT by LongViewSC
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To: Daveinyork

Also keep in Mind Reagan wasn’t loved by every republican until after the 1980 landslide. I was a huge fan, but there were many republicans that doubted his ability to win.


15 posted on 09/27/2012 11:58:58 AM PDT by LongViewSC
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To: Daveinyork

Also keep in Mind Reagan wasn’t loved by every republican until after the 1980 landslide. I was a huge fan, but there were many republicans that doubted his ability to win.


16 posted on 09/27/2012 11:59:10 AM PDT by LongViewSC
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To: Daveinyork

Also keep in Mind Reagan wasn’t loved by every republican until after the 1980 landslide. I was a huge fan, but there were many republicans that doubted his ability to win.


17 posted on 09/27/2012 11:59:19 AM PDT by LongViewSC
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To: Daveinyork

Also keep in Mind Reagan wasn’t loved by every republican until after the 1980 landslide. I was a huge fan, but there were many republicans that doubted his ability to win.


18 posted on 09/27/2012 11:59:32 AM PDT by LongViewSC
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To: kingattax

Hopefully 0bama’s snarkiness and his inner a**hole personality will be displayed in the debates.


19 posted on 09/27/2012 12:00:09 PM PDT by forgotten man (forgotten man)
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To: Elendur

Even here in Alabama where McCrummy won big in 2008, I saw lots of Obama yard posters and bumper stickers. I have not seen even ONE yard poster yet this year. The only bumper stickers are the old faded 2008 ones. Even those are hard to read. Even the ones here that voted for him last election are not openly saying they will do it again.


20 posted on 09/27/2012 12:03:15 PM PDT by RetiredArmy (The Scriptures clearly tell us we are in the last days, the end times. Christ is the only answer!)
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