Ford/Dole lost narrowly to Carter/Mondale--48.02% to 50.08% [240 EV to 297 EV]. Ford took almost the entire western half of the US [including the entire West Coast] plus Illinois, NJ, MI, VA, Maine, NH, VT, and CT. Under the circumstances, it was a remarkable performance that it was even that close.
Ford barely lost Ohio [48.92% to 48.65%] with its 25 EV, but that would not have been enough to win the election.
Ford/Dole lost narrowly to Carter/Mondale--48.02% to 50.08% [240 EV to 297 EV]. Ford took almost the entire western half of the US [including the entire West Coast] plus Illinois, NJ, MI, VA, Maine, NH, VT, and CT. Under the circumstances, it was a remarkable performance that it was even that close. Ford barely lost Ohio [48.92% to 48.65%] with its 25 EV, but that would not have been enough to win the election. Politically they were two peas in a pod though. Much of the Carter years mess including the military woes were just a continuation. That is the problem of which still haunts the GOP today. It can not shake off the Liberalism of the Ford era lackies. Same names same faces making same mistakes and expecting different results.