1980 U.S. Presidential Election (Nixon in the 1980s)

Margin of Victory?

  • Nixon/Buchanan by 10% or more

    Votes: 4 20.0%
  • Nixon/Buchanan by 5-10%

    Votes: 7 35.0%
  • Nixon/Buchanan by 1-5%

    Votes: 3 15.0%
  • Kennedy/Finch by 1-5%

    Votes: 6 30.0%
  • Kennedy/Finch by 5-10%

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    20
  • Poll closed .
AP8010220112.jpg

1980

1980 Democratic Nomination

In a surprise upset, Carter beat Kennedy in Iowa 47-42%.

In New Hampshire, Kennedy won over Carter 48-37% and never looked back.

Carter won the South, but Kennedy won almost everywhere else.

genusmap-d80-png.327270

Blue-Kennedy Red-Carter

At the convention in NYC, Kennedy beat Carter on the first ballot 1,700-1,599. Kennedy picked former Mississippi Governor Cliff Finch as his running mate.

History_Speeches_2025_Ted_Kennedy_Dreams_Shall_Never_Die_Speech_SF_still_624x352.jpg

Senate Majority Leader Ted Kennedy nominating his brother for president.

1980 Republican Nomination

Nixon was the front-runner going into the Iowa caucus. Nixon had campaign aggressively in the state and it paid off. Nixon won Iowa by over 15% with Crane and Bush in second and third.

Nixon won New Hampshire by a two-one margin and won every primary thereafter.

genusmap-r80-png.327280

Red=Nixon

At the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Nixon's nomination was assured. The main highlight of the convention was Nixon's choice of a running-mate. Nixon's final VP list consisted of Howard Baker, Pat Buchanan, John Connally, Phil Crane, Bob Dole. In the end, Nixon decided he needed a conservative and narrowed it down to Crane, Connally and Buchanan. Nixon decided not to go with either of his primary rivals and picked his former speechwriter, turned White Chief of Staff and current U.S. Senator Pat Buchanan as his running-mate.

nixon21.jpg

Nixon on the campaign trail.

Infoboxes by Pug
 
Top