Nationwide opinion polling for the 1980 United States presidential election

This article provides a list of scientific, nationwide public opinion polls that were conducted relating to the 1980 United States presidential election.

Presidential election

Ronald Reagan vs Jimmy Carter

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Ronald Reagan (R)	Jimmy Carter (D)	John Anderson (I)	Other	Undecided	Margin
Gallup[1]	March 31 – April 3, 1978	46%	50%	-	1%	3%	4
ABC-Harris[2]	May 14–20[a], 1978	47%	46%	-	-	7%	1
Gallup[3]	July 7–10, 1978	43%	52%	-	1%	4%	9
Gallup[4]	December 8–11, 1978	35%	57%	-	2%	5%	22
ABC-Harris[5]	December 21–26, 1978	38%	55%	-	-	7%	17
Gallup[6]	March 23–26, 1979	38%	52%	-	3%	7%	14
ABC-Harris[7]	March, 1979	46%	49%	-	-	5%	3
ABC-Harris[8]	May, 1979	45%	47%	-	-	8%	2
ABC-Harris[9]	June, 1979	51%	43%	-	-	6%	8
Gallup[10]	June 22–25, 1979	49%	45%	-	1%	5%	4
Gallup[11]	July 13–15, 1979	52%	42%	-	2%	4%	10
ABC-Harris[12]	July 28–29, 1979	51%	44%	-	-	5%	7
Gallup[13]	August 3–6, 1979	42%	47%	-	4%	7%	5
ABC-Harris[14]	September 1–5, 1979	50%	45%	-	-	5%	5
Gallup[15]	September 7–10, 1979	46%	47%	-	2%	5%	1
ABC-Harris[16]	September 26 – October 1, 1979	45%	52%	-	-	3%	7
Gallup[15]	October 12–15, 1979	42%	48%	-	3%	7%	6
ABC-Harris[17]	November 7–10, 1979	42%	53%	-	-	5%	11
Gallup[18]	November 16–19, 1979	41%	53%	-	1%	5%	12
Gallup[19]	December 7–9, 1979	36%	60%	-	1%	3%	24
ABC-Harris[20]	December 14–16, 1979	36%	59%	-	-	5%	23
Gallup[21]	January 4–6, 1980	32%	63%	-	1%	4%	31
ABC-Harris[22]	January 22, 1980	31%	65%	-	-	4%	34
Gallup[23]	February 1–3, 1980	32%	59%	-	3%	6%	27
ABC-Harris[24]	January 31 – February 4, 1980	32%	64%	-	-	4%	32
Gallup[25]	February 29 – March 2, 1980	34%	57%	-	3%	6%	23
ABC-Harris[24]	March 5–8, 1980	40%	58%	-	-	2%	18
ABC-Harris[26]	March 13–15, 1980	40%	55%	-	-	5%	15
ABC-Harris[26]	March 26–30, 1980	47%	50%	-	-	3%	3
Gallup[27]	March 28–30, 1980	43%	48%	-	2%	7%	5
		34%	39%	21%	1%	5%	5
ABC-Harris[26]	April 8, 1980	48%	45%	-	-	7%	3
		38%	38%	22%	-	1%	0
Gallup[27]	April 11–13, 1980	44%	49%	-	1%	6%	5
		34%	41%	18%	1%	6%	7
ABC-Harris[28]	April 25, 1980	42%	33%	19%	-	6%	9
Gallup[29]	April 26–27, 1980	43%	47%	-	-	10%	4
		35%	40%	19%	-	6%	5
ABC-Harris[30]	April 26–30, 1980	39%	33%	23%	-	5%	6
Gallup[31]	May 2–5, 1980	40%	47%	-	-	13%	7
		33%	38%	21%	-	7%	5
Gallup[31]	May 16–18, 1980	41%	49%	-	-	10%	8
		32%	40%	21%	-	7%	8
Gallup[32]	May 30 – June 2, 1980	39%	50%	-	-	11%	11
		32%	39%	21%	-	8%	7
ABC-Harris[33]	June 5–9, 1980	51%	44%	-	-	5%	7
		39%	34%	24%	-	3%	5
Gallup[32][34]	June 13–16, 1980	45%	42%	-	-	13%	3
		33%	35%	24%	-	8%	2
Gallup[32][34]	June 27–30, 1980	47%	41%	-	-	12%	6
		37%	32%	22%	-	9%	5
Gallup[35][34]	July 11–14, 1980	37%	34%	21%	-	8%	3
Gallup[36]	July 11–13, 1980	43%[b]	34%[c]	16%	-	7%	9
July 14–17: Republican National Convention
ABC-Harris[37][38]	July 18–21, 1980	61%	33%	-	-	6%	28
		49%	23%	25%	-	3%	24
Gallup[39]	August 1–3, 1980	45%	31%[d]	14%	-	10%	14
ABC-Harris[40]	August 5–6, 1980	57%	36%	-	-	7%	21
		48%	28%	19%	-	5%	20
August 11–14: Democratic National Convention
Gallup[41][42]	August 15–17, 1980	40%	46%	-	-	14%	6
		39%	38%	14%	1%	8%	1
ABC-Harris[43]	August 14–18, 1980	42%	36%	17%	-	5%	6
Gallup[44]	August 15–18, 1980	38%	39%	13%	-	10%	1
ABC-Harris[45]	September 3–7, 1980	41%	37%	17%	-	5%	4
Gallup[44][46]	September 12–15, 1980	41%	37%	15%	-	7%	4
ABC-Harris[47]	September 22, 1980	42%	36%	19%	-	3%	6
		48%	46%	-	-	6%	2
ABC-Harris[48]	October 3–6, 1980	43%	39%	14%	-	4%	4
Gallup[46]	October 10–12, 1980	45%	42%	8%	-	5%	3
ABC-Harris[49]	October 14–16, 1980	42%	39%	12%	-	7%	3
Gallup[50]	October 17–20, 1980	40%	41%	10%	-	9%	1
ABC-Harris[51]	October 22–25, 1980	45%	42%	10%	-	3%	3
Washington Post[52]	October 26–27, 1980	43%	39%	7%	-	11%	4
Newsweek-Gallup[52]	October 29–30, 1980	44%	43%	7%	1%	5%	4
ABC-Harris^[citation needed]	October 30 – November 1, 1980	45%	40%	10%	1%	4%	5
CBS-New York Times^[citation needed]	October 30 – November 1, 1980	44%	43%	8%	-	5%	1
Gallup[53]	October 30 – November 1, 1980	46%	43%	7%	1%	3%	3
Election Results	Nov. 4, 1980	50.75%	41.01%	6.61%	1.63%	-	9.74

Hypothetical Polling

Ronald Reagan vs Edward Kennedy

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Ronald Reagan (R)	Edward Kennedy (D)	John Anderson (I)	Other	Undecided	Margin
ABC-Harris[54]	May 14–20[e], 1978	42%	54%	-	-	4%	12
Gallup[55]	May 19–22, 1978	36%	56%	-	1%	7%	20
Gallup[3]	July 7–10, 1978	36%	59%	-	1%	4%	23
ABC-Harris[5]	December 21–26, 1978	39%	55%	-	-	6%	16
ABC-Harris[7]	March, 1979	38%	58%	-	-	4%	20
Gallup[56]	May 18–21, 1979	35%	56%	-	3%	6%	21
Gallup[11]	July 13–15, 1979	38%	56%	-	2%	4%	18
ABC-Harris[12]	July 28–29, 1979	36%	59%	-	-	5%	23
Gallup[13]	August 3–6, 1979	32%	61%	-	3%	4%	29
ABC-Harris[14]	September 1–5, 1979	39%	58%	-	-	3%	19
Gallup[57]	September 7–10, 1979	33%	61%	-	2%	4%	28
ABC-Harris[16]	September 26 – October 1, 1979	34%	64%	-	-	2%	30
Gallup[15]	October 12–15, 1979	38%	54%	-	2%	6%	16
ABC-Harris[17]	November 7–10, 1979	38%	58%	-	-	4%	20
Gallup[19]	December 7–9, 1979	44%	49%	-	2%	5%	5
ABC-Harris[20]	December 14–16, 1979	49%	46%	-	-	5%	3
Gallup[21]	January 4–6, 1980	42%	50%	-	2%	6%	8
Gallup[23]	February 1–3, 1980	48%	39%	-	6%	7%	9
Gallup[58]	February 29 – March 3, 1980	53%	34%	-	-	13%	19
Gallup[58]	May 16–19, 1980	51%	38%	-	-	11%	13
Gallup[58]	June 13–15, 1980	58%	32%	-	-	10%	26
Gallup[39]	August 1–3, 1980	48%	27%	18%	-	7%	21

Ronald Reagan vs Jerry Brown

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Ronald Reagan (R)	Jerry Brown (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
ABC-Lou Harris[2]	May 14–20[f], 1978	52%	40%	-	8%	12

Ronald Reagan vs Scoop Jackson

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Ronald Reagan (R)	Scoop Jackson (D)	John Anderson (I)	Other	Undecided	Margin
Gallup[39]	August 1–3, 1980	46%	21%	20%	-	13%	25

Ronald Reagan vs Walter Mondale

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Ronald Reagan (R)	Walter Mondale (D)	John Anderson (I)	Other	Undecided	Margin
Gallup[39]	August 1–3, 1980	47%	27%	18%	-	8%	20

Ronald Reagan vs Edmund Muskie

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Ronald Reagan (R)	Edmund Muskie (D)	John Anderson (I)	Other	Undecided	Margin
ABC-Harris[59]	June 5–9, 1980	48%	48%	-	4%	0
Gallup[39]	August 1–3, 1980	45%	31%	16%	-	8%	14

George Bush vs Jimmy Carter

Poll source	Date(s) administered	George Bush (R)	Jimmy Carter (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
ABC-Harris[22]	January 22, 1980	32%	62%	-	6%	30
Gallup[23]	February 1–3, 1980	35%	54%	2%	9%	19
Gallup[25]	February 29 – March 2, 1980	32%	57%	-	11%	25

George Bush vs Edward Kennedy

Poll source	Date(s) administered	George Bush (R)	Edward Kennedy (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
Gallup[23]	February 1–3, 1980	52%	37%	3%	8%	15

Howard Baker vs Jimmy Carter

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Howard Baker (R)	Jimmy Carter (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
ABC-Harris[9]	June, 1979	46%	45%	-	9%	1
Gallup[11]	July 13–15, 1979	47%	44%	1%	8%	3
ABC-Harris[12]	July 28–29, 1979	48%	43%	-	9%	5

Howard Baker vs Edward Kennedy

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Howard Baker (R)	Edward Kennedy (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
Gallup[11]	July 13–15, 1979	36%	57%	2%	5%	21
ABC-Harris[12]	July 28–29, 1979	34%	60%	-	6%	26

John Connally vs Jimmy Carter

Poll source	Date(s) administered	John Connally (R)	Jimmy Carter (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
Gallup[60]	February 2–5, 1979	33%	53%	3%	11%	20
ABC-Harris[9]	June, 1979	41%	52%	-	7%	11
Gallup[10]	June 22–25, 1979	38%	53%	1%	8%	15
Gallup[11]	July 13–15, 1979	43%	49%	3%	5%	6
ABC-Harris[61]	July 28–29, 1979	40%	52%	-	8%	12

John Connally vs Edward Kennedy

Poll source	Date(s) administered	John Connally (R)	Edward Kennedy (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
Gallup[56]	May 18–21, 1979	24%	63%	3%	10%	39
Gallup[10]	June 22–25, 1979	25%	67%	1%	7%	42
Gallup[11]	July 13–15, 1979	30%	62%	3%	5%	32

Gerald Ford vs Jimmy Carter

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Gerald Ford (R)	Jimmy Carter (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
Gallup[1]	March 31 – April 3, 1978	45%	51%	1%	3%	6
ABC-Harris[62]	April, 1978	42%	50%	-	8%	8
ABC-Harris[2]	May 14–20[g], 1978	48%	43%	-	9%	5
Gallup[3]	July 7–10, 1978	46%	47%	2%	5%	1
Gallup[63]	September 22–25, 1978	40%	53%	2%	5%	13
Gallup[4]	December 8–11, 1978	39%	53%	3%	5%	14
Gallup[6]	March 23–26, 1979	41%	48%	4%	7%	7
Gallup[10]	June 22–25, 1979	50%	43%	1%	6%	7
Gallup[11][13]	July 13–15, 1979	55%	40%	2%	3%	15
Gallup[13]	August 3–6, 1979	48%	42%	4%	6%	6
Gallup[15]	September 7–10, 1979	51%	42%	3%	4%	9
ABC-Harris[64]	September 26 – October 1, 1979	55%	42%	-	3%	13
Gallup[65]	October 12–15, 1979	47%	41%	4%	8%	6
ABC-Harris[17]	November 7–10, 1979	50%	46%	-	4%	4
Gallup[19]	December 7–9, 1979	39%	57%	1%	3%	18
Gallup[21]	January 4–6, 1980	38%	57%	1%	4%	19
Gallup[23]	February 1–3, 1980	41%	52%	2%	5%	11
ABC-Harris[24]	March 5–8, 1980	44%	54%	-	2%	10

Gerald Ford vs Edward Kennedy

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Gerald Ford (R)	Edward Kennedy (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
ABC-Harris[54]	May 14–20[h], 1978	43%	52%	-	5%	9
Gallup[55]	May 19–22, 1978	41%	51%	1%	7%	10
Gallup[3]	July 7–10, 1978	40%	57%	-	3%	17
Gallup[56]	May 18–21, 1979	38%	52%	4%	6%	14
Gallup[11]	July 13–15, 1979	41%	54%	2%	3%	13
Gallup[13]	August 3–6, 1979	35%	57%	3%	5%	22
Gallup[57]	September 7–10, 1979	38%	58%	1%	3%	20
ABC-Harris[64]	September 26 – October 1, 1979	40%	58%	-	2%	18
Gallup[65]	October 12–15, 1979	42%	51%	2%	5%	9
Gallup[19]	December 7–9, 1979	51%	43%	1%	5%	8
Gallup[21]	January 4–6, 1980	49%	44%	2%	5%	5
Gallup[23]	February 1–3, 1980	57%	34%	3%	6%	23

Gerald Ford vs Jerry Brown

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Gerald Ford (R)	Jerry Brown (D)	Other	Undecided	Margin
ABC-Harris[2]	May 14–20[i], 1978	52%	38%	-	10%	14

Notes

1. Date is approximate
2. With George Bush
3. With Walter Mondale
4. With Walter Mondale
5. Date is approximate
6. Date is approximate
7. Date is approximate
8. Date is approximate
9. Date is approximate

References

1. "President Would Beat Ford, Reagan". The Tampa Tribune.
2. "Ford Leads Carter For 1980, Poll Says". The Kansas City Times.
3. "Kennedy Stronger Than Carter Against GOP". Rapid City Journal.
4. "Jimmy Carter Leading Ford And Reagan". Danville Register and Bee.
5. "Carter Routs Reagan In Election Poll". Asbury Park Press.
6. "Carter Leads, Edge Narrows". Danville Register and Bee.
7. "Reagan Trails Carter, Kennedy". Lansing State Journal.
8. "Reagan Cuts Deeper Into Carter's Lead". The Minneapolis Star.
9. "Reagan Leads Carter 51-43%". The Times.
10. "Ford, Reagan Pass Carter In Popularity". The Indianapolis Star.
11. "Poll Shows Kennedy Stronger Than Carter Against GOP's Top 4". The Shreveport Journal.
12. "Carter Trailing Reagan, Baker". The Minneapolis Star.
13. "Carter Gaining Ground". Rapid City Journal.
14. "Reagan Keeps Lead Over Carter In Presidential Choice Poll". Asbury Park Press.
15. "President, Reagan In Dead Heat". The Miami Herald.
16. "Reagan's Standing Suffers Sharp Drop In Presidential Poll". Asbury Park Press.
17. "Reagan Takes Big Lead In GOP Race". Asbury Park Press.
18. "Carter Continues Lead Over GOP". The Tampa Tribune.
19. "Carter Pushes Ahead As Kennedy Falters In Ford-Reagan Tests". The Miami Herald.
20. "Carter Takes Big Lead Over Reagan In Presidential Race Poll". Asbury Park Press.
21. "Carter Consolidates Lead Over GOP". The Tampa Tribune.
22. "Carter Holds Lead Among Candidates". Asbury Park Press.
23. "Carter Leads 3 GOP Contenders, But Ted Trails". The Miami Herald.
24. "Republicans And Independents Pick Ford As Favorite Candidate". Asbury Park Press.
25. "Reagan Invites Connally Workers To Join His Effort". Des Moines Tribune.
26. "Reagan Tops Voters' List; Carter Dives". Press and Sun-Bulletin.
27. "Carter's Lead Over Reagan Slipping; Anderson Strong". The Miami Herald.
28. "Reagan Leads Carter". Journal and Courier.
29. "Anderson Strongest Among Younger Voters". The Boston Globe.
30. "Anderson Starts To Look Like A Possible Winner". Detroit Free Press.
31. "Carter Outpolls Reagan 49% to 41% In Survey". The Los Angeles Times.
32. "Reagan Stretches Lead Over President Carter". The Salt Lake Tribune.
33. "Three New National Polls Show Reagan Well Ahead". The Atlanta Constitution.
34. "Reagan Widens Lead While Anderson Slips". Danville Register and Bee.
35. "Gallup Poll Has Reagan Maintaining Lead Over Carter". Rapid City Journal.
36. "Reagan-Bush Ticket Leads Dems". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
37. "Poll: Reagan Leads Carter By 28 Percent". Reno Gazette-Journal.
38. "Poll Shows Carter Third". The Boston Globe.
39. "Gallup Poll: Carter Falters But Still Leads Teddy". The Daily News.
40. "Latest Figures: Reagan 48%, Carter 28%, Anderson 19%". The Plain Dealer.
41. "Reagan And Carter Run Neck And Neck In Gallup". The Miami Herald.
42. "Carter And Reagan In Dead Heat, According To Gallup Poll". The Des Moines Register.
43. "AFL-CIO Balks On Carter Support". The News Journal.
44. "Latest Test Still Shows Reagan And Carter In Close Contention". The Indianapolis Star.
45. "Carter Nixes 3-Way Campaign Debates". Philadelphia Daily News.
46. "Reagan Holds Narrow Lead; Anderson Dips". The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
47. "Carter Loses Ground In Poll". The Times Herald.
48. "Poll Reveals 3-Point Slip By Anderson". Tarrytown Daily News.
49. "Poll Reveals 3-Point Slip By Anderson". The Buffalo News.
50. "This Poll Puts Jimmy, Ron In Dead Heat". The Olympian.
51. "Reagan, Carter In Tight Fight". Florida Today.
52. "Polls Say Its Going Down To The Wire". The Miami Herald.
53. "Reagan Leading In Final Poll". The Pantagraph.
54. "Ford, Reagan Ahead Of Carter In Poll; Kennedy Leads All". Muncie Evening Press.
55. "Kennedy Leads All In Presidential Poll". The Montgomery Advertiser.
56. "Kennedy Holds Lead Over Ford, Reagan, Connally". Rapid City Journal.
57. "Ford Leading Reagan As Kennedy Opponent". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
58. "Poll Has Reagan Leading Kennedy". Rapid City Journal.
59. "Muskie Would Tie With Reagan, Says New Harris Survey". Muncie Evening Press.
60. "Gallup Poll". The Star Press.
61. "Connally Trails Carter, 52-40". Lansing State Journal.
62. "Carter Leads Ford In Pairing For 1980". Asbury Park Press.
63. "Gallup Poll Shows Carter Would Defeat Ford Again". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
64. "Poll: Kennedy Ahead Of Ford, Reagan". Asbury Park Press.
65. "Ford, Reagan Bite Into Kennedy Lead". The Niles Daily Star.