I think the rabbit had little to do with Reagan beating Carter. Stagflation had more to do with it, and the Panama Canal, and Iran, and appeasing the Russians (SALT II)followed by Afghanistan. And then there was the famous “malaise speech”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IlRVy7oZ58
Speaking of the malaise speech - have you seen the remix version?
See link in my post above - its amazing!!