Landslide Landslide
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Apr 4, 2024 The podcast dives into the political turmoil of the 1980 election, highlighting Jimmy Carter's struggles and Ronald Reagan's rise to power. It explores how the Iranian hostage crisis temporarily boosted Carter's popularity before his eventual decline. The emergence of the Christian Right and its impact on the Republican platform is examined, along with Reagan's strategic shift in messaging that resonated with voters. The pivotal debate moment that reshaped perceptions of Reagan is also discussed, culminating in his landslide victory and its implications for American conservatism.
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Crisis Of Confidence Opened Political Opportunity
- By 1980 Americans faced cascading crises — gas shortages, inflation, recession, and the Iran hostage crisis — that produced a pervasive "crisis of confidence."
- Ben Bradford argues this mood made voters hungry for a forceful alternative to incumbency, opening the door to ideological change.
Kennedy's Failed Challenge To Carter
- Ted Kennedy launched a primary challenge to Jimmy Carter and initially surged with a 33-point lead in the polls.
- The campaign collapsed after damaging TV interviews and the Iran hostage crisis refocused public support on Carter.
Institutional Building Fueled The New Right
- New Right organizers built institutional power by combining conservative networks and mailing lists to fund activism.
- Paul Weyrich and allies then recruited evangelicals, creating a potent political coalition for the GOP.