Mondale defeats Reagan

By July, Mondale had closed his lead on Reagan from 15 points to 7. He sounded a bit befuddled in the first debate with Mondale, and his strategists only let him go off of a very carefully planned script right before the second debate of "youth and inexperience" fame.

Ironically for the traditional Republican vs. Democrat campaign, Mondale's best chance is to make foreign policy a major issue: it would help him if Reagan messes up something in the summer or fall of 1984.

Just throwing out ideas here more than anything else. :)

How could Mondale beat Reagan, with a POD no earlier than after his nomination was assured?
 
By July, Mondale had closed his lead on Reagan from 15 points to 7. He sounded a bit befuddled in the first debate with Mondale, and his strategists only let him go off of a very carefully planned script right before the second debate of "youth and inexperience" fame.

Ironically for the traditional Republican vs. Democrat campaign, Mondale's best chance is to make foreign policy a major issue: it would help him if Reagan messes up something in the summer or fall of 1984.

Just throwing out ideas here more than anything else. :)

Short of Reagan bursting into tears and slugging Mondale in the jaw during their televised debates, it's inconceivable that Walter Mondale, widely seen as a second Jimmy Carter, could defeat Reagan in 1984.
 
Remove Reagan's "exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience" line from the second debate. Aside from that line he was as bad in the second debate as the widely talked about first.

Two bad debates in a row? Debates that make him look old and confused? Assuming that Mondale can capitalize on opportunity (unlikely, but I suppose possible) I'd say there's an outside chance for an upset.

In addition to that a different VP and a better campaign staff would be most helpful to Mondale.
 
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