Democratic presidential nominee Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd during his acceptance speech at the 1976 Democratic National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York. The little-known former peanut farmer and governor of Georgia became the frontrunner early in the primary season by winning the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, after which he tirelessly toured the country, winning over Americans. Carter and his vice presidential nominee, Sen. Walter Mondale, went on to win narrowly over President Gerald Ford and Sen. Bob Dole, the GOP vice presidential pick.