How badly did Reagan do in the first 1984 debate?

[Pericles]

The one debate that might be compared to what we just saw is the 1984 one imo. In the first debate then, Reagan also lost it by a big margin and came across as confused and tired. So the age issue flared up in the campaign. The best-case for the Biden campaign is that they can repeat what Reagan did by easily winning the second debate and calming the doubters.

I highly doubt that Reagan did as badly though or that the age issue was as big of a deal as it is for Biden though. So what would be good to know is how Reagan did in that debate, and whether there is any comparison to Biden's problems right now?

[OSR stands with Israel]

Also Reagan was up by nearly 20 points going into that debate

[iceman]

social media was not as pervasive then. elections today, whether you agree or not, are won with a big help by social media.

[Pericles]

Also Reagan was up by nearly 20 points going into that debate

And that's the margin he won by, so doesn't that show he overcame the age issue?

Though if voters already like the candidate then that is a big help at getting them to look past weaknesses.

[E-Dawg]

I haven't watched the debate, but I would guess that Reagan was on 2020 Biden levels of lack of energy at the worst? No chance it was anywhere near as bad as Biden's performance last night.

[It’s so Joever]

Nowhere near as bad. These debates all are on YouTube, Biden’s was the worst performance of any and it’s not close.

[SInNYC]

It was bad but not as bad as last night delivery-wise. However, the interesting thing about the 84 debate was that the post-debate poll had Reagan losing the debate but people more likely to vote for him.

[Swalwell was Right (God help us)]

It was bad but not as bad as last night delivery-wise. However, the interesting thing about the 84 debate was that the post-debate poll had Reagan losing the debate but people more likely to vote for him.

Time really is a flat circle huh

[Mr. Smith]

Trump's got more spark than Fritz did.