[164] Heading into 1980, Reagan's age became an issue among the press, and the United States was in a severe recession.[165] In the primaries, Reagan lost Iowa to George H. W. Bush, but rebounded in New Hampshire. Soon thereafter, Reagan's opponents began dropping out of the primaries, including John B. Anderson, who left the party to become an independent candidate. Reagan captured the presidential nomination with ease and chose Bush as his running mate at the Detroit convention in July.[166]
The general election pitted Reagan against Carter amid the multitude of domestic concerns and ongoing Iran hostage crisis.[167] Carter "suggested that Reagan would wreck Social Security" and portrayed him as a warmonger[168] while Anderson had support from Rockefeller Republicans.[169] In August, Reagan gave a speech at the Neshoba County Fair, stating his belief in states' rights. Joseph Crespino argues that the visit was designed to reach out to Wallace-inclined voters,[170] and some also saw these actions as an extension of the Southern strategy to garner white support for Republican candidates.[171] Reagan's supporters have asserted that this was his typical anti-big government rhetoric, without racial context or intent.