No, now, neither Jess Unruh nor Walter Mondale were considered particularly “strong” candidates.
They had the support of their undivided party, which doesn't apply in this race, in which the GOP-e faced a pre-blackguarded insurgent candidate from the dissident Main Street (no Money) wing.
Not impressive of Corny, considering he dropped all that $$$ on a not-terribly-strong candidate the press hates.