One more stop might have done it
Mondale won MN 49.72% to 49.54
With the glee of brigands, the Reagan campaign touched down in its rival’s home state this morning so President Reagan might personally seek to sway some final, resistant votes from Walter F. Mondale.
A day after they disowned any intent to ‘’rub in’’ their lead in the polls by visiting the Democratic nominee’s home turf, Reagan strategists did precisely that. Without the usual advance preparation, they hurried the President into a rural airport as recorded music played and travelers gawked at Air Force One.
Some thought Mr. Reagan was using the sudden foray to embarrass Mr. Mondale. ‘’Would the Gipper run up the score?’’ he was asked at an impromptu news conference.
‘’I don’t think of it as running up the score,’ Mr. Reagan replied to the question referring to his once having portrayed the Notre Dame football hero George Gipp. ‘’The Gipper would never quit until the final whistle.’
And that was only because Reagan chose not to fight Minnesota, although it was close enough to.