In 1980 Carter passed up a debate, so Reagan debated this third candidate instead
[DOC] [TLE] The 8 Biggest Unforced Errors in Debate History - POLITICO Magazine [PAR] Sep 24, 2016 ... Over the 56 years that presidential debates have been televised, ... to make a 
positive breakthroughespecially with two candidates so ... During his only 
debate with Ronald Reagan in the fall of 1980, Jimmy Carter didn't get that 
lesson ... this or any other debate happened: Gore walked right up to Bush as... [DOC] [TLE] The State of the Presidential Debate - The New Yorker [PAR] Sep 19, 2016 ... A third-party candidate, Gary Johnson or, less likely, Jill Stein, could be invited to 
this fall's debates, depending on the polls.