From my recollection, Reagan was the top of the polls with announced candidates. Only Ford out polled him. Reagan was always the frontrunner in '80.
Actually, the MSM is doing the same thing to Rick Perry they did to Ronald Reagan, and I have a feeling we will have a similar outcome. They are painting him out to be a total buffoon who is nothing more than a raving lunatic.
If he does indeed get the nomination, that absurd caricature will not hold up. The American people will see he is a likable guy with common sense ideas.
He wouldn't win as many states as Reagan did. Demographics won't allow it, but he would have a comfortable electoral victory IMO.