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Can either nominee create a Reagan moment in 2012?

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    Michael Reagan weighs in

  • Duration 6:11
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And again typically is against such a proposal governor.

When you go again.

Well that was arguably one of the most memorable moments in -- presidential debate for most conservatives.

President Reagan set the bar so high that -- can live up to that standard.

This week I talk with president Reagan's son Michael.

About this issue he says it's a mistake to try to -- create a quote Reagan moment or find another Reagan he says doing that you may lose sight.

-- a great leader.

Michael -- -- so much for joining us today great to have you here with us good to be with you thank you.

We'll ask you about the debate in -- -- -- you're very happy about the way it turned out to many observers say that when you get to see a candidate I'm filtered.

Talking directly to voters it trumps any media lens that might be at play.

-- actually right -- my father understood that also.

Understand who the audience truly was when he was debating Jimmy Carter for Walter Mondale are speaking Mikhail Gorbachev forgiving is turned on the -- -- Or the evil empire speech he understood.

-- the audience wasn't who the audience was going to be and I think the Mitt Romney just -- pulled that off.

The other night and it's showing in the polls -- -- else.

I've got a very interesting is it true that the right after the debating you -- that this is the best debate to buy a Republican since -- That's what I said you -- it's easy for me to say the best since Reagan everybody was saying that.

Leo my father we remember -- line here no wind there when he debated Jimmy Carter Mondale.

And there -- great debates of course.

The debate that Mitt Romney put on the other night was not a Ronald Reagan debate there was a Mitt Romney -- The grasp of the issues the way he in fact went on the offensive against the president of the United States America from the beginning of the end.

There was great moments all the way through there wasn't one there were many and that's why I said the best debate I think.

Since Lincoln and I say that -- under Mitt Romney for what he did and not tie him to Ronald Reagan I think we make a mistake we keep on looking for Ronald Reagan.

We weren't looking for Abraham Lincoln and what we found Ronald Reagan we're looking for a leader I think -- -- -- we found one.

It's very easy that you put in that perspective because so many people feels -- -- -- feel that -- your father set the bar the high bar when it comes to these presidential debates.

I think they probably did because that's the only person we've been able to quote.

So for ninety days they haven't had another Republican to really quote -- the night you may as well another is another Republican.

I introduced Mitt Romney a couple years ago here Los angels California club and I should do the group that was there.

Let's not make a mistake of looking for the next Ronald Reagan because if we do that.

We may very well walk right past the next great leader of our movement and that is something is always concerned me because when you put.

Somebody up against Ronald Reagan they're going to just fail simply because it's Ronald Reagan.

So let Mitt Romney have his moment applaud him for what he did and not try to tie into the past look to the future.

Why do you think so many people say you need to have that phrase that special.

Sentence in a debate over that can be remembered for its people going forward for the future for generations to come why do you get a pivotal moment -- -- -- of people learned -- from the go from the game changer -- whether the age issue of Mondale there you go again or are you better off today you were four years ago great moments in time.

This is a different -- -- at a different place there were in that we were back in 1980 even though there's many similarities.

That this society.

Is different today that it was back in the 1980s and so we have to change and understand it from that viewpoint.

Well let me ask you going forward.

What are some of your expectations as Mitt Romney prepares for his next -- Face off with the president.

He can have a down moment.

I think what happened we -- -- loopholes you -- the polls changing with the things are getting closer and some -- and Mitt Romney's.

Born in -- people saw these two for the first time together.

He could not let down he's got to do the same thing in the next two debates he did in the first debate he's got to show that consistency at a real grass.

Of the issues at hand there in fact hurting American today and how he's gonna fix it.

And you expect and that's going forward and that he will.

Continue to build on the momentum that he's had up to this point.

I think there's many people in my position and certainly hope so you're one of the questions I ask you what good are you better off today than you were four years ago.

Are you -- are you safer today that you were four years ago.

There's a lot of people who in fact don't feel safer today they did four years ago at about California.

-- all you have to do is say are you better off today than you were yesterday afternoon when gas was forty cents cheaper now I think -- -- -- -- gasoline prices there of course are soaring.

By the moment as you put it and we knew what you did let me sum up and take take stock of what's it but what declare now what is your biggest -- over the last couple weeks in -- -- the media has handled this this race in the way that the media has you -- Mitt Romney.

I'm not surprised with the media and their word for -- wait -- while Reagan that government friendly to to Republicans.

And and so my father had a buy time in -- get around the media.

I mean the other night Mitt Romney proved.

His strength to what it truly yes.

And I think he can't let the media.

Putting well the defense if he can't let the president putting on the defensive.

When he's on the defensive he loses when he goes on the offensive we found out he wins stay on the offense not -- defense.

As my wife once said to me.

Don't let somebody else's attitude deter -- yours for the remainder of the day so don't let him do that.

Very interesting perspective and wise words indeed Michael Reagan thank you so much for joining us today a pleasure having you here.

We'll thank you so much love there.