Yeah, I read on FR that Reagan was behind in the polls a month before the election.
I don’t remember that but I find it hard to believe Carter was in the running at the time.
I was in the Air Force, in our 4th year of drawdowns following the Vietnam Era drawdown. Morale was in the crapper. Reagan promised to build the military. I would think he got high 80’s to 90s from military voters.
Public polling was far more corrupt and agenda-driven then than it is now.
The polls showing Carter ahead were leftist lies attempting to limit the damage down-ballot.
Fast forward to about 4 years ago. I remember talking to my cousin out in Fayettenam about military morale. It wasn’t very good, with the endless deployments and consequences of the Clinton drawdown. And looking forward to what would happen if PBO got elected—knowing those were the good old days compared to what was to come and it wasn’t that good.
Thank you for your service, hattend. You’re a hero.,