It’s not irrelevant. He became President and was re-elected despite being a bigger lightweight than Carter.
It goes to show that NO candidate can beat a Democrat in the current atmosphere. They just have it locked.
McCain couldn’t beat him in 2008 because he authored McCain/Kennedy in 2006 and pushed another amnesty attempt in 2007.
Romney couldn’t beat him in 2012 because he was the author of Romneycare, precursor to Obamacare.
They were chosen as designated losers.
He could have been beaten but the RNC/GOP did not want to win.