Who knows which single thing lost Carter the election, but the Reagan campaign appears to have back channeled with Iran to delay any hostages being released,
‘The term “October surprise” was originally used by the Reagan camp to describe its fears that Mr. Carter would manipulate the hostage crisis to effect a release just before the election.
To forestall such a scenario, Mr. Casey was alleged to have met with representatives of Iran in July and August 1980 in Madrid leading to a deal supposedly finalized in Paris in October in which a future Reagan administration would ship arms to Tehran through Israel in exchange for the hostages being held until after the election.’
Reagan campaign paid Iran millions to stall the release of the hostages and shortly after winning the election they were released. Pretty shitty, and treasonous imo to be using your own fellow citizens being held hostage as political leverage.
‘The term “October surprise” was originally used by the Reagan camp to describe its fears that Mr. Carter would manipulate the hostage crisis to effect a release just before the election.
To forestall such a scenario, Mr. Casey was alleged to have met with representatives of Iran in July and August 1980 in Madrid leading to a deal supposedly finalized in Paris in October in which a future Reagan administration would ship arms to Tehran through Israel in exchange for the hostages being held until after the election.’
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/18/us/politics/jimmy-carter-...