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Republicans returned in 1980 with their nasty version of a “Southern Strategy” after grandpa-esque Ronald Reagan managed to have “Dixie” stab President Jimmy Carter in the back – four years after propelling Georgia’s “native son” to victory.

Actually, Carter ran stronger in the South than in the rest of the country in 1980. The electoral math was complicated by a third party candidate who ran strong in other parts of the country, but no way did the South "stab Carter in the back" in that election. It was his own incompetence that did Jimmy in.

[Lurker]

The electoral math was complicated by a third party candidate who ran strong in other parts of the country

That would be John B. Anderson, RINO Republican from Rockford IL.