Reply #52: John Anderson [View All]

was a Republica member of the House of Representatives from 1961-81. He ran for president in the Republican primaries in 1980 as a moderate-liberal Republican. He came in third and hurt Bush the most by splitting the anti-Reagan vote. His support came from mostly liberal to moderate Republicans (the so called Rockefeller Republicans) that couldn't stand the thought of a cowboy nominee.

When Reagan got the nomination, he bolted the party and ran as an independent. I remember him being as high as over 10 % or so in the polls, but he ended up at 6.6 %. Reagan got 50.7 %, Carter 41.0 % and Ed Clark made the Libertarian Party's best showing with 921,000 votes or 1.1 % of the total.

Anderson got his best support from the northeast from Rockefeller Republicans and fed up Democrats. Since Reagan didn't need to win there anyway, he no doubt hurt Carter more because it made Carter defend his base. I'm pretty sure that Anderson cost Carter Massachusetts and maybe New York. Those are the only two states I think he mattered in though.

Trying to think of a current politician that would be like Anderson in 1980. Maybe Congressman Chris Shays (R) of Connecticutt?