[TBP]

I remember showing up to work the phones for Reagan the day after the debate. I was smiling big.

“What are you so happy about?”
“We just won this election.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
“Did you see the debate last night?”
“Yeah. Unimpressive.”
“There are only two things anyone remembers: ‘Nuclear proliferation, Daddy” and ‘Are you better off than you were four years ago?’ Both work for us. We won. It might be big.”

(It was)

[Publius]

There was also the issue of optics.

Carter came across like a prim little prig with a bad case of constipation. Reagan came across like everybody's grandfather or favorite uncle.

Reagan was a rock of stability compared to Carter.