This was the map going into the one and only Carter/Reagan debate. It was clear that he was in electoral vote trouble by October 1980--effectively losing Texas, Ohio, and Florida (Carter states in 1976) by then.
Time and Newsweek had maps which showed a somewhat more favorable situation for Carter, but it was clear that Reagan had an advantage as well. And it was well known that several Democratic incumbents in the Senate were in trouble. Of course, no one expected the tsunami that happened on November 4.
Yah even with this battleground map its obvious that Carter was done because if you give Reagan Oregon as if WA is lean R , OR will probably follow suit that puts Reagan at 247 and IL would be all he needs to get over the top and given the fact that Reagan was a candidate literally meant for the Suburbs , Carter was probably not gonna win IL either.
So this map pretty much meant Carter was done