In January 1979 Winter encountered a former aide who was assisting another candidate in that year's election and conducting polling. The aide asked if he could add Winter's name to statewide survey on persons who could be elected governor. Winter agreed, and the aide later called him to indicate that his chances in the 1979 gubernatorial election were favorable. After several months he decided to announce his candidacy, denouncing the "corruption and mismanagement" of Finch's administration and linking Finch's troubles with Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Gandy, the frontrunner in the Democratic primary race at the time.