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.
The original poster was saying that Reagan early on was considered unelectable. Early on would be in the GOP Primary. He did quite well in that. The match up between Carter and Reagan is a different matter. As we already know, the polling in that was total garbage. They had Reagan at like 7 million voter deficit.
You are right on the MSM. They always paint our guys as buffoons. I think the public is wise to it and will disregard these caricatures.
Unfortunately, the demographic group least likely to vote for any Republican, even if Satan himself were the Dem nominee, are outbreeding and out-immigrating those who would vote GOP.