May 6th, 1980:
COMEBACK FOR THE PEANUT FARMER? CARTER TROUNCES EDWARDS IN HOOSIER STATE DEM PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
IN Dem Primary:
Carter: 73% ✔
Edwards: 23%
Inside the Hoosier State, Vice President Jimmy Carter trounced former LA Governor Edwin Edwards (D) in a landslide victory with 73% of the statewide vote & carrying all 92 counties. "The comeback begins right here in the Hoosier State ladies and gentlemen!" Carter boasted before packed ballroom of supporters in Indianapolis.
May 13th, 1980
CARTER MOMENTUM CONTINUES WITH LANDSLIDE WINS IN KY & WV
KY Dem Primary:
Carter: 63%✔
Edwards: 35%
WV Dem Primary:
Carter: 67%✔
Edwards: 26%
More momentum for Vice President Jimmy Carter as he carried his momentum from IN into back-to-back-to-back landslide wins in KY & WV, where Carter trounced Edwards by overwhelming landslide margins. The upcoming primary will take place in OR on May 20th, where speculation swirling around a potential debate between the incumbent Vice President & former LA Governor.
Updated Delegate Count: 1980 Democratic Party presidential nomination
Former LA Governor Edwin Edwards (D): 36%
Vice President Jimmy Carter (D-GA): 36%
May 17th, 1980:
PRESIDENT JERRY BROWN DELIVERS THIRD & FINAL STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
For the final time during his term, President Jerry Brown delivered his 3rd & final State of the the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress & the nation on TV. The event was originally scheduled for January 25th & later delayed to May 17th, which brought him strong backlash & criticism after going on vacation. "Ladies and Gentlemen, my fellow Americans, I can report to the nation and the world, that the State of our Union is on the right track," Brown promptly opened his 29-minute speech inside the US House of Representatives chambers. "We are at peace diplomatically, unemployment is declining across America, the deficit is declining and the economic recession is long over," he added. Nonetheless, the President admitted economic growth wasn't where its supposed to be & called upon Congress for additional measures to stimulating growth, such as more public investments in infrastructure, science & education. "I know we're talking about a lot of money here, my friends." Brown told the packed bipartisan group of lawmakers. "That's why I'm asking you to pass comprehensive tax reform which will provide more relief for working people, increases taxes on high incomes and closes tax loopholes. Together, we can do it and make it possible in making them realities."
The President went on to propose spending in the coming fiscal years, but after the presidential election, with regard to healthcare, education, housing & infrastructure. Unlike in 1978 & 1979, he spent virtually no time on Healthcare Reform, which had failed in Congress the last two years in a row. Instead, Brown intends to launch a new attempt following the elections during the lame-duck period.
On foreign policy, which he devoted the final 13 minutes of his speech, the President defended his administration's foreign policy & cautions with military arms sales & supplies overseas. "My administration does execute federal laws," he said with regard to the Panama Canal Treaties, Camp David Accords, Detente with Cuba; "contrary what has been claimed by political operators with an ulterior hidden agenda for November. The trut, however, is that diplomacy works in avoiding deadly conflicts overseas. It did work and continues to work. We make steady progress. Sometimes it just takes time." Lastly, President Brown said he intends to begin new arms reduction treaties with the Soviet Union as soon as pre-conditions are met.
However, Brown also issued a stern warning to the Soviet Union that the United States wouldn't hesitate going to war if necessary to protecting the oil supply routes of the Persian Gulf. In what became known as the Brown Foreign Policy Doctrine, he said "An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America. And such an assault will be strongly repelled by any means necessary, including military force."
GOP RESPONSE FROM LA GOVERNOR DAVE TREEN (R)
The Republican Party Response to President Jerry Brown's State of the Union Address was delivered by LA Governor Dave Treen (R) from the LA Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge.
"President Brown has failed America." Treen told the audience, "the truth is, President Brown keeps urging patience every single year since taking office. But in reality, he cannot hide and escape from the truth any longer. He can no longer deny that our economy is not growing the way it should. Indeed, real incomes are declining under this administration. And what about public safety and getting tough on violent crime? President Brown didn't mention the word anytime at all. He's the one who has lost touch with the Silent Majority of Americans."
Treen also aggressively criticized the Brown administration's foreign policy. "After three years of failed leadership on the international stage, there's more of the same. More incompetence, more weakness against Moscow, Tehran, Havana; No strategies for Latin America, Asia, Europe and no important in allied relationships we depend on."
May 20th, 1980:
CARTER MOMENTUM UNSTOPPABLE WITH LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN OR PRIMARY
OR Dem Primary:
Carter: 62% ✔
Edwards: 35%
Vice President Jimmy Carter gets another win in the primary season with another resounding landslide victory in the OR Primary crushing former LA Governor Edwin Edwards (D) with 62% of the statewide vote. Both Carter & Edwards are tied up 39% each of their respective delegates. Once again, there's growing speculation swirling around a potential debate between both candidates before the final primaries set for June 3rd.
Updated Delegate Count: 1980 Democratic Party presidential nomination (May 20th, 1980)
Vice President Jimmy Carter (D-GA): 39%
Former Governor Edwin Edwards (D-LA): 39%