1980 Presidential Campaign
Carter wrote that the most intense and mounting opposition to his policies came from the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, which he attributed to Ted Kennedy's ambition to replace him as president. Kennedy, originally supportive of Carter's health plan, backed away from that legislation in the late stages. Carter believed that was because of Kennedy's ambitions for his candidacy. As neither Democrat won, comprehensive health coverage was delayed for decades.
Carter's campaign for re-election in 1980 was one of the most difficult, and least successful, in history. He faced strong challenges from the right (Ronald Reagan), the center (John B. Anderson), and the left (Ted Kennedy). He had to run against his own "stagflation"-ridden economy. He alienated liberal college students, who were expected to be his base, by re-instating registration for the draft. He was defeated by Ronald Reagan in a landslide.
Read more about this topic: Jimmy Carter
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