re: #93 Targetpractice

Like most things surrounding St. Ron, the GOP idolizes their fantasy scenario of how ‘80 played out rather than the reality of it. In their fantasy, St. Ron used that magnificent debate performance to “come from behind” and win big. Everybody thought Carter was going to win, then overnight they broke for St. Ron in huge numbers and took him to a awe-inspiring victory.

The reality was that Reagan had taken a pretty convincing lead in the later summer, expanded it during the convention, and kept hold of it all the way to the election.

Agreed. I was old enough to pay attention then, and Carter’s re-election was basically doomed by the hostage crisis and especially the failure of the rescue attempt.