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The two candidates participated in two presidential debates and [[George H. W. Bush]] and Geraldine Ferraro in one Vice Presidential debate. At 72, Reagan was asked about his age during the second debate. He responded "I want you to know also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience", which would become one of the most memorable moments of the campaign.

The two candidates participated in two presidential debates and [[George H. W. Bush]] and Geraldine Ferraro in one Vice Presidential debate. At 72, Reagan was asked about his age during the second debate. He responded "I want you to know also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience", which would become one of the most memorable moments of the campaign.

Reagan was able to win the election with a landslide popular and electoral majority over Mondale, who won only the [[District of Columbia]] (which has never been won by a Republican candidate) and his home state of [[Minnesota]].<ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents]], by Zachary Kent, Children's Press, 1989, pp. 71-73.</ref>  The Mondale/Ferraro ticket lost Geraldine Ferraro's home district, which voted for Reagan.

Reagan was able to win the election with a landslide popular and electoral majority over Mondale, who won only the [[District of Columbia]] (which has never been won by a Republican candidate) and his home state of [[Minnesota]].<ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents]], by Zachary Kent, Children's Press, 1989, pp. 71-73.</ref>  The Mondale/Ferraro ticket lost Geraldine Ferraro's home district, which voted for Reagan. In many ways, the election and its result were a repeat of the 1972 election, where a sitting Republican president won in a landslide against an extreme liberal Democrat.

Even in Minnesota, Mondale won by a mere 3761 votes, meaning Reagan came within less than 3800 votes of winning in all fifty states. Reagan won a record 525 electoral votes total (of 538 possible), and received nearly 60 percent of the popular vote. Mondale's 13 electoral college votes marked the lowest total of any major Presidential candidate since [[Alf Landon]]'s [[United States presidential election, 1936|1936 loss]] to [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]. With regards to the [[Electoral College]], Mondale's defeat was also the worst for any Democratic Party candidate in history.

Even in Minnesota, Mondale won by a mere 3761 votes, meaning Reagan came within less than 3800 votes of winning in all fifty states. Reagan won a record 525 electoral votes total (of 538 possible), and received nearly 60 percent of the popular vote. Mondale's 13 electoral college votes marked the lowest total of any major Presidential candidate since [[Alf Landon]]'s [[United States presidential election, 1936|1936 loss]] to [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]. With regards to the [[Electoral College]], Mondale's defeat was also the worst for any Democratic Party candidate in history.