Yes but Reagan didn’t have to deal with the present lunatic Democrats. Reagan would have been hard pressed to be able to get opponents to like him. There are few if any Democrats like Mondale existing today. If Mondale was running today, he’d be looked at as too moderate in the present Democratic Party.
Reagan was pilloried constantly. AND he had a completely Dem Congress to balance, only 2 years had a Repub Senate.
While indeed Dems tried to hate on him and color him stupid and told us how everyone was homeless thanks to him, at the same time he was completely disarming with his charm. Ultimately one was thought a bit absurdly insane if accusing Reagan of evil or meanness.
And yet, he was tough as nails.