Anderson nearly catches 2 front-runners in poll

John B. Anderson, the independent presidential candidate, drew nearly even with President Carter and Ronald Reagan in a major opinion poll, making him a force to be reckoned with in the 1980 battle for the presidency. The poll, conducted by the Louis Harris organization for ABC News, separated the three men by only six percentage points, with Mr. Reagan holding a slight lead. The poll said if a general election were held today, Mr. Anderson, the Illinois Republican congressman at odds with his party, would receive 29 percent of the vote; Mr. Carter, 31; and Mr. Reagan, 35.

The survey was the first to demonstrate that Mr. Anderson had a real chance in next November's election -- if he could conquer major organizational problems such as getting his name on most state ballots.