In 1984, Ronald Reagan (Republican) won 525 of 538 electoral votes, defeating Walter Mondale by 512 EV during the Cold War Realignment era. In 2012, Barack Obama (Democratic) won 332 of 538, defeating Mitt Romney by 126 EV during the Modern Polarization era. Turnout: 55.2% vs 58.6%.
vs
1984
Cold War Realignment
Ronald Reagan
Republican
Electoral votes
525 of 538
EV margin
512
Popular vote
58.8%
Turnout
55.2%
Runner-up
Walter Mondale (Dem)
Reagan won a massive re-election landslide, carrying 49 states with the 'Morning in America' campaign amid robust economic recovery. Walter Mondale, Carter's VP, made history by choosing Geraldine Ferraro as the first female VP nominee of a major party. Mondale's straightforward promise to raise taxes damaged his campaign. Reagan won 525 electoral votes, the most ever won by a candidate in an election with a major-party opponent. Mondale carried only his home state of Minnesota (by 3,761 votes) and DC.
2012
Modern Polarization
Barack Obama
Democratic
Electoral votes
332 of 538
EV margin
126
Popular vote
51.1%
Turnout
58.6%
Runner-up
Mitt Romney (Rep)
Obama won re-election over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney despite high unemployment and slow economic recovery from the 2008 crash. The Obama campaign's sophisticated data analytics and ground game proved decisive, turning out supporters in key swing states. Romney's '47 percent' comment (secretly recorded at a private fundraiser) damaged his image as caring only for the wealthy. Sandy, the superstorm, struck a week before the election, giving Obama a bipartisan moment with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie that reinforced his presidential image.