Nation: Now, a Few Words in Closing

On balance, Reagan benefits from the Big Debate

It has been a long march from the snows of Iowa and New Hampshire, from the time when George Bush had the "Big Mo" and Ted Kennedy seemed to have the Democratic nomination for the asking, even from the balloons and ballyhoo of Cobo Hall and Madison Square Garden. As Campaign '80 finally and mercifully came down to a matter of days, the end at last in sight, two factors loomed as potentially decisive. One was the revival of the hostage drama, the other the debate between...