You and others are confusing RR’s general campaign kickoff with the one for the party’s nomination. The Labor Day 1980 announcement came after he had received the Republican convention’s nod and the defeat of Jimmy Carter was only 2 months away.
My opinion is that Sarah will not run this year.
True, yet we know how Palin revers Reagan, and if there was any time to take ques from his history, Labor Day, given the high unemployment numbers, is the perfect occasion to harken back to days of prosperity.
I’m also not convinced she’ll run, though I’d lover her to. But, as everyone should know by now, the lady keeps her cards close to her chest and her strategy is anything but conventional.