Can someone tell me where Reagan was polling against Carter in 1978?
In late 1978 a Harris poll showed Reagan trailing Carter by 17 points, 55-38.
In 1979 U.S. News published comments by the Carter WH lamenting that Reagan seemed to be slipping because they thought he was the most beatable:
"White House political strategists have concluded—regretfully—that Ronald Reagan is fading and will have little chance of winning the Republican presidential nomination in 1980. Why the regrets? Because Carter's aides are convinced that the conservative, 68-year-old former California governor is an easy target. (April 2, 1979)"