Funny...I sure don't remember it that way.
1980: Reagan’s bid for the Republican nomination in 1976 paid off in 1979, when he emerged as the front-runner for the 1980 Republican nomination. Although George H.W. Bush came the closest to actually toppling Reagan in the early primaries, Reagan’s closest competition in 1979 Gallup polls for support among Republicans nationwide came from Gerald Ford, who never formally entered the race. In January 1979, Reagan led Ford by 31% to 26%. Republicans’ preferences for the two were about tied from May through July, but by August, Reagan was up, 36% to 22%, and he maintained a strong lead through the end of the year. When the 1979 trend is re-configured by substituting Ford supporters’ second choice, Reagan’s position looks even stronger — he beat John Connally and Howard Baker by more than 20 points in each poll.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/146489/lack-gop-front-runner-2012-atypical.aspx