By report (but I can’t say with certainty), the Reagan campaign knew that it was within striking distance of Minnesota, and a 50-state blowout. There was a proposal within the campaign organization to send President Reagan to the state, to try to tip it. The proposal was stopped by the only person who could stop it—President Reagan. He knew that he was going to humiliate Vice President Mondale anyway, so he decided to back off Mondale’s home state. Reagan didn’t throw the state, but he didn’t really contest it, either. His position was roughly “Let him win his own state. I’ll settle for the rest.”
Yes, I remember reading about scenario also.