Eleven major contenders competed in the 1976 Democratic primaries . At the start of the primaries , former Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia was little-known nationally , but he rocketed to prominence with a victory in the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary . A born again Christian , Carter emphasized his personal morality and his status as a Washington outsider . Carter won the presidential nomination on the first ballot of the 1976 Democratic National Convention , and selected liberal Senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota as his running mate . Carter began the race with a huge lead in the polls , but committed a major gaffe by giving an interview to '' Playboy '' in which he stated that " I 've committed adultery in my heart several times . " Ford made his own gaffe during a televised debate , stating that " there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe . " In an interview years later , Ford said he had intended to imply that the Soviets would never crush the '' spirits '' of eastern Europeans seeking independence . However , the phrasing was so awkward that questioner Max Frankel was visibly incredulous at the response . As a result of this blunder , Ford 's surge stalled and Carter was able to maintain a slight lead in the polls
1976 Democratic National Convention
1976 Democratic National Convention
Presidency of Gerald Ford