Harris Poll January 29, 1980:
CARTER NOW FAR AHEAD OF BOTH REAGAN AND BUSH
"President Carter so dominates the American political scene now that his margin over Ronald Reagan in a post-Iowa trial heat has risen to an overwhelming 65-31 percent."
Also, Time magazine ran a big story in March of that year basically saying Reagan was unelectable. Gallup had a poll in that time frame with Reagan down 25 points.
Or how about this?
March 10, 1980. The GOP establishment had decided they needed another candidate besides Bush to stop Reagan and started recruiting Gerald Ford:
ABC News - Harris poll: FORD LEADS BOTH CARTER AND REAGAN, ALTHOUGH STILL UNDECLARED CANDIDATE
"Former President Gerald Ford is the first choice of Republican and independent voters to head the GOP ticket, even though he has not yet declared himself a candidate for the Republican nomination.
Ford also leads President Carter among the general electorate."
PLEASE REMIND ME AGAIN, WHO WON IN 1980?
RONALD WILSON REAGAN, (IIRC)