ELECTION 76
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
After all the hoopla: it's Ford or Carter on Nov. 2
Rv PAUL ADDISON
Jimmy Carter
It's almost over now, except for the voting and the counting. Unless Jimmy Carter or President Gerald Ford make a politically damaging statement between now and the 2016 election, American people can expect one of the most contested elections in recent history.
It didn't always look that way. Just three months ago the Gallup and Harris opinion poll gave Carter an overwhelming lead in the election, points over either Ford or Ronald Reagan.
The 1976 presidential election campaign has been a competitive and peculiar contest. It's been a story of personal triumph for Carter, who was almost unknown outside his home state of Georgia two years ago. At the same time, it it's been somewhat more difficult for those in the cumbent, whose narrow victory over Ronald Reagan at the Republican convention owed more to luck than good political judgment.
Too often their rhetoric was too similar; too often their images were too plastic; too often the individuals were too ambiguous and not clearly representing the density of campaigning. In 1975 'moral leadership' and 'fundamental reform' were the rallying cries of many Democratic contestants. Beyond that, it seems, few had been able to imagine they would do if elected—including Carter.
1978 HAS SEEN the rise and fall of a large number of presidential hopefuls. Byrd, Bentzen, Bayh, Sandford, Shriver, Shapp, Harris, Church, Brown and Wallace. Today their names bring back only dim memories that failed to attract the American public.
Carter's campaign has been constantly dogged by those Republicans and Democrats who aimed to present him as lacking issues and clarity. Yet if Carter is to be condemned, so too must one condemn President Ford because both have, in the traditional manner of presidential candidates, aimed to please as many people as
possible by offering wide ranging and unspecific platforms.
DESPITE UNCERTAINY about which candidates would rise from their party's base, many voters now look back to the first formal political actions this year, the Iowa precinct caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, where they will divide a virulent even at this early stage.
In Iowa, Carter gained widespread support in rural and urban areas, among blue and white collar workers and in divergent ethnic groups to coast to an easy route for many. In California, Bayh of Indiana. One month later Carter gained a majority over Arizona Rep. Morris Udall in New Hampshire. For the Republicans, the Iowa straw poll and the New Hampshire primary gave President Donald Trump a conservative California Ronald Reagan.
NETHER CARTER nor Ford, however, was to have an untramured path to his respective nomination. In March Carter crashed to a crushing fourth place defeat in Massachusetts behind Sen. Henry Jackson and former state senator Robert Wallace of Alabama. Later that month the Florida, Illinois and North Carolina primaries extended Carter's victory total, but the late entry into the Democratic race of Sen. Frank Church from Idaho and Gov. Edmund Brown of California dampered early celebrations before he faced Senator Hubert Humphrey, admitted he was prepared to run "if my party should need me."
For Ford, the early primaries were hopeful signs that a first ballot nomination was in his grasp. Then came Reagan's victory in North Carolina March 23, followed by his clean sweep of all the Texas delegates.
MAY 1 TRULY was a 'may day' for Ford.
Besides the Texas loss, Ford suffered defeats in Indiana, Georgia and Alabama, the worst series of defeats for an incumbent
See AFTER page 14
Gerald Ford
Campaign's ins-and-outs in review
1974
Jan. 17- Sen. Walter Mondale, D-Minn.
ann.ulates exploratory bid for presidency
1975
Sept. 23—Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-
Mass., says he won't run
Nov. 23—Sen. Mondale withdraws, saying he won't have "the overwhelming desire to become president."
Nov. 23—Rep. Morris Udall, D-Ariz., announces official candidacy bid
Dec. 12—Gov. James Carter of Georgia opens his campaign for Democratic governor.
Jan. 11-Former Sen. Fred Harris, D-Okla. declares himself a candidate
Jan. 12—Former Sen. Eugene McCarthy,
D-Minn, says he'll run as an independent
Republican.
Feb. 6—Sen. Henry Jackson, D-Wash.
enters竞赛 race
Feb. 17-Sen. Lloyd Bentse, D-Texas,
enters Davis race
May 28--Former Gov. Terry Sanford of North Carolina, president of Duke University.
July 8 - President Ford officially announces his candidacy for Republican party掌舵
Sept. 20—R. Sargent Schriver,
candidate in 1972, announces his candidacy
in 1972, announces his candidacy
Sept. 25-Gov. Milton Shipp of Pennsylvania enters Democratic race
Oct. 21.-Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind., joins the Democratic fray
Nov. 12—Gov. George Wallace of Alabama nominated his fourth bid to gubernatorial office.
Nov. 20—Former Gov. Ronald Reagan of California opposes campaign for Republican nominee in the race.
Jan. 9.-Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W. Va., enters Democratic race
1976
Jan. 23—Gov. Sanford withdraws
Feb. 10—Sen. Benten withdraws
March 4—Sen. Bayh withdraws
March 12—Gov. Shaw withdraws
March 12—Gov. Edmund Brown, D-Calif.
nounces favorite-son campaign in
California.
March 16 - Sargent Shriver says he's no longer an active candidate
March 18 - Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho,
enters Democratic race
April 8 - Former Sen. Harris withdraws
May 1 - Jackson ends active pursuit of
Senator Clinton.
June 8—Gov. Wallace releases his delegates to Carter
June 14-Sen. Church withdraws candidacy, endorses Carter
June 14-Rep. Udall stops active campaigning
July 15—Gov. Carter nominated as Democratic candidate for president; Sen. Mondale approved by Democratic convention as running mate
Aug. 19—President Ford nominated as Republican candidate for president; Sen. Robert Dole of Kansas approved by Republican convention as running mate
Nov. 2—Election Day