In the alternate reality you live in.
But in the universe where Reagan was elected, he was absolutely savaged by the press day in and day out for YEARS before the campaign, during the campaign, and as President.
He fought against rigged polls that had him losing right up to the election, AND unlike Trump, he had a serious third party challenger from the Republicans he also had to defeat.
Check your sense of reality. The MSM today is far more radicalized.