It didn't hurt that Reagan was smart enough to see this and insisted that Anderson be included on the first debate. How many of us Freepers remember that Jimmy Carter boycotted that debate and was represented by an empty chair? Reagan, having shown himself to be principled and fair minded by including the person who was supposed to take votes from him, proceeded to eat Carter's lunch in the next two debates and never looked back.
Reagan...proceeded to eat Carter’s lunch in the next two debates...
“There you go again!”