[103] Carter's stated positions during his campaign included public financing of congressional campaigns,[104] his support for the creation of a federal consumer protection agency,[105] creating a separate cabinet-level department for education,[106] signing a peace treaty with the Soviet Union to limit nuclear weapons,[107] reducing the defense budget,[108] a tax proposal implementing "a substantial increase toward those who have the higher incomes" alongside a levy reduction on taxpayers with lower and middle incomes,[109] making multiple amendments to the Social Security Act,[110] and having a balanced budget by the end of his first term of office.[111]  The electoral map of the 1976 election
On July 15, 1976, Carter chose U.S. senator Walter Mondale as his running mate.[112] Carter and Ford faced off in three televised debates,[113] the first United States presidential debates since 1960.[113][114] For the November 1976 issue, Carter was interviewed by Robert Scheer of Playboy, which hit the newsstands a couple of weeks before the election. While discussing his religion's view of pride, Carter said: "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times.