If anything Anderson took votes from moderate republicans, by 1984 Reagan went from overwhelming victory in 1980 to historical landslide in 1984.
1980 Presidential campaign
“In the 1980 presidential election, Anderson entered the Republican primary for the U.S. Presidential election, in a crowded field that included Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, and therefore did not run for reelection to the House. He received little media notice until a Republican debate. Candidates were asked if there were any actions in their past that they had come to regret. Most of them dodged the question, but Anderson took it head-on, telling viewers that, if he could, he would reverse his vote for the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. His popularity increased dramatically overnight.
His best showing was on March 4, finishing a strong second to George Bush in the Massachusetts primary and Ronald Reagan in the Vermont primary, losing both contests by less than a thousand votes. That spring, following the Wisconsin primary, at which time it was apparent that Reagan would win the nomination, he dropped out of the primary race to run as an independent candidate for the fall general election.”
From what I saw .. Anderson took away from Both carter and Reagan.
But, after Carter’s 4 years a trained chimpanzee could have beaten him...
REAGAN got44 states.. No matter the percentages that’s still a landslide.
Then I guess 1984 Reagan v. Mondale was a squeaker too???