Editing Jimmy Carter (section)

=== Election ===
{{Further|1976 United States presidential election}}
[[File:ElectoralCollege1976.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|alt=Results for the 1976 United States presidential election|1976 electoral vote results. Carter won 297–240.]]
Carter once had a sizable lead over Ford in national polling, but by late September his lead had narrowed to only several points.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-carters-lea/156473356/ Carter's lead narrows] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007091537/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-springfield-news-leader-carters-lea/156473356/ |date=October 7, 2024 }}. ''The Springfield News-Leader''. September 29, 1976. October 3, 2024.</ref><ref>Harris, Louis (October 30, 1976). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-harris-poll-says-carter/156324701/ Harris Poll says Carter holds only a 1-point lead]. [[Tampa Bay Times]]. Retrieved September 30, 2024.</ref> In the final days before the election, several polls showed that Ford had tied Carter, and one [[Gallup poll]] found that he was slightly ahead.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-argus-presidential-contenders/156330083/ Presidential Contenders Strain At Finish]. [[United Press International]]. ''The Times Argus''. November 1, 1976. Retrieved September 30, 2024.</ref> Most analysts agreed that Carter was going to win the [[popular vote]], but some argued Ford had an opportunity to win the [[United States Electoral College|electoral college]] and thus the election.<ref>Larrabee, Don (October 31, 1976). [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-presidency-seems-to/156365167/ Presidency seems to be up for grabs]. ''The Greenville News''. Retrieved October 1, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-recorder-fords-brother-sees-elector/156365939/ Ford's brother sees electoral college victory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226111644/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-recorder-fords-brother-sees-elector/156365939/ |date=December 26, 2024 }}. [[Associated Press]]. ''The Recorder''. November 1, 1976. Retrieved October 1, 2024.</ref>

Carter and Mondale ultimately defeated Ford and his runningmate (Senator [[Bob Dole]]), receiving 297 electoral votes and 50.1% of the popular vote.<ref name="Toledo Blade-1976">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8_tS2Vw13FcC&dat=19761103&printsec=frontpage |title=Carter Appears Victor Over Ford |newspaper=Toledo Blade |date=November 3, 1976 |access-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122194136/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8_tS2Vw13FcC&dat=19761103&printsec=frontpage |url-status=live}}</ref> Carter's victory was attributed in part<ref>Kaplan, Seth; Kaplan, James I. (November 3, 1976). [https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1976/11/3/many-factors-figured-in-carters-win/ Many Factors Figured in Carter's Win] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241224163527/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1976/11/3/many-factors-figured-in-carters-win/ |date=December 24, 2024 }}. [[The Harvard Crimson]]. Retrieved September 30, 2024.</ref> to his overwhelming support among black voters in states decided by close margins.<ref name="bhuh43">{{cite news |last=Delaney |first=Paul |date=November 8, 1976 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-parsons-sun-blacks-line-up-for-carte/156325287/ |title=Blacks Line Up For Carter Plums |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |via=The Parsons Sun |access-date=September 30, 2024 |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226011233/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-parsons-sun-blacks-line-up-for-carte/156325287/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In Ohio and Wisconsin, where the margin between Carter and Ford was under two points, the black vote was crucial for Carter; if he had not won both states, Ford would have won the election.<ref name="bhuh43"/><ref>Kornacki, Steve (July 29, 2019). [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/journey-power-history-black-voters-1976-2020-n1029581 Journey to power: The history of black voters, 1976 to 2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241005072534/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/journey-power-history-black-voters-1976-2020-n1029581 |date=October 5, 2024 }}. [[NBC News]]. Retrieved September 30, 2024.</ref>