The 1976 parallel was suggested in an article about today's ABC/WPost poll.
Gerald Ford also had to contend with a serious primary challenge, and I believe that Reagan was only dozens of delegates away from toppling Ford. Nevertheless, Ford nearly pulled off an electoral college victory.
per reliabilty .
1) Mason Dixon
2) SurveyUSA
3) Research 2000
4) Local State pollsters
5) ARG
6) Rasmussen
7) Zogby