Posted on 02/04/2017 8:24:24 AM PST by Vigilanteman
ROCHESTER, Minn., Nov. 4— With the glee of brigands, the Reagan campaign touched down in its rival's home state this morning so President Reagan might personally seek to sway some final, resistant votes from Walter F. Mondale.
A day after they disowned any intent to ''rub in'' their lead in the polls by visiting the Democratic nominee's home turf, Reagan strategists did precisely that. Without the usual advance preparation, they hurried the President into a rural airport as recorded music played and travelers gawked at Air Force One.
Some thought Mr. Reagan was using the sudden foray to embarrass Mr. Mondale. ''Would the Gipper run up the score?'' he was asked at an impromptu news conference.
''I don't think of it as running up the score,'' Mr. Reagan replied to the question referring to his once having portrayed the Notre Dame football hero George Gipp. ''The Gipper would never quit until the final whistle.''
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Naturally, I had to look up the details and found this original article. Few people realize that a flip of 1881 votes in Minnesota would have given Reagan a 50 state sweep back then.
As it was, Mondale had to wait until 2004 to lose a statewide election in Minnesota, becoming the only major party candidate in history to lose elections in all 50 states!
“I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience”
Mondale beat RR by 2000 in Mn in 1984. He lost to Norm Coleman in 2002 for the senate seat. Lost elections in all 50 states
Most of us felt Reagan was going to be re-elected. That line ensured that it was going to be by a huge margin.
My buddy Mark worked on the Reagan Bush ‘84 campaign. He told me that when they saw the Minn polls tightening, it was decided to go to Minn the last weekend, a sort of a what-the-heck attempt to pull off a 50-state sweep.
Came close. If social media had been around back then and it got bigger local publicity, it might have happened.
I remember election night ‘84 very well. Haven’t been so pleased on an election eve again until 2016!
Nice trip down memory lane. Thanks for posting.
Minnesota and DC were teh only places Mondale carried.
Maybe Hillary was channeling her inner Ronnie when she campaigned in Texas. She came soooooooooooo close, but no cigar.
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