In the earliest polls in August, Reagan was well ahead of Carter.[1] Independent candidate John B. Anderson, who had recently chosen former Badger State Governor Patrick Lucey as his running mate,[2] was ahead of Carter in some normally Democratic districts of the state.[1] Anderson was the first of the three leading candidates to campaign in the state, doing so alongside his running mate early in September,[3] Reagan campaigned in the state during the first week of October, when he was ahead by 5 points in a recent poll, and argued that his tax cuts are necessary to aid business and an economy affected by stagflation.[4] Carter would not campaign in Wisconsin until the second week of October, when he argued against Reagan’s nuclear and military arms positions, arguing that they could lead to interventions that were “jingoistic”, “macho” and “guided by a desire to push everybody around”.[5]
In October, Reagan continued to lead in Wisconsin, although his lead fell as Anderson’s strength dropped below the 20 percent level where it had been during September.[6]Wisconsin was ultimately won by Reagan and his running mate, former C.I.A. DirectorGeorge H. W. Bush of Texas, against incumbent President Carter by 4.72 points. This was about what had been expected at the beginning of October.[7] This result made Wisconsin almost 5% more Democratic than the nation-at-large.
^ ab‘Reagan Runs Ahead of Carter, Democratic Study Group says’; Boston Globe, August 9, 1980, p. 12
^Weaver, Warren, Jr.; ‘Anderson Chooses Lucey for His Ticket: Praises Ex-Wisconsin Governor as Qualified for the White House’; Special to The New York Times, August 26, 1980, p. A1
^‘Anderson Opens Campaign in Midwest: Are Debates Critical?’; Special to the New York Times, September 2, 1980, p. B8
^Nyhan, David; ‘Reagan Aims at Economy for Votes in Key States’; Boston Globe, October 3, 1980, p. 1
^Weisman, Steven R.; ‘Carter Presses Issue of “War and Peace”: In Illinois and Wisconsin, He Again Accuses Reagan of Backing Policies of Intervention’; Special to The New York Times, October 7, 1980, p. D21
^Broder, David S.; ‘The Post Survey: Reagan's Lead Is Big, But Carter Can Still Win: Reagan Leads; Carter Can Win’; The Washington Post, October 5, 1980, pp. D1, D5
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