On October 28, 1980, Ronald Reagan debated President Jimmy Carter. In his closing statement he gave voters a list of questions. “Are you better off than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago?”
He also asked whether America was as respected and as strong as it had been. About 80.6 million people watched the debate. Candidates of both parties have asked the “better off” question in later campaigns.