While the Republicans had ruined the economy the Mondale presidency wasn't doing much to fix it. So the Democrats were going to have to pay for it in the senate elections.
Because the Democrats gained a seat in New Jersey and New Mexico their losses were nullified. But the Republicans were preparing for a revolution in the 1984 election...
After the Mondale presidency hadn’t done much to help the struggling economy it seemed like the Republicans were going to have some leverage going into the 1984 election. The candidates were:
Congressman Jack Kemp
Ambassador George Bush
Senator Howard Baker
Senator John Danforth
Televangelist Pat Robertson
Supreme Allied Commander Alexander Haig
At the beginning of the campaign George Bush held a lead in the polls. However Howard Baker began to take a lead after his performances in the debates. His moderation and bipartisanship would help him in the general election and many people began to realize that. Baker managed to win Iowa while Jack Kemp won New Hampshire and Vermont. On March 4th 1984 Baker, Kemp, Bush, and Danforth would all compete in a debate two days before the Wyoming primary.
“With all due respect to Mr. Kemp we need a candidate who can bring some bipartisanship to the White House and that candidate is me.” -Howard Baker
In the Wyoming primary Baker pulled off another win before the field of candidates was lowered to three when John Danforth dropped out. On March 13 Baker won Alabama, Florida and Georgia, while Kemp won Massachusetts and Rhode Island. George Bush dropped out after severely underperforming in the primaries.