Ask yourself who would win in a theoretical election: Obama ’09 or Reagan ’84? Sure, President Obama’s victory last year was impressive, but his approval ratings are dropping by the hour and the late Reagan is consistently cited as one of the country’s most beloved former presidents. Perhaps Reagan wouldn’t win 49 states as in 1984, but is there any doubt, knowing what we know now, that Reagan would emerge victorious — and do so decisively? Context is everything. Reagan wouldn't have done well in 2008. It was a Democrat year, and there was a reaction against Bush. Obama wouldn't have done well in the Eighties either -- too much like Jimmy Carter.