Carter came to office at a very bad time. Oil crisis, the aftermath of Watergate, Chickens coming home to roost in Iran.

Most Americans wanted to be lied to. Individuals wanted to be told that they could be as greedy and wasteful and they wanted, that the future was bright, and easy and as long as they stuck to their "values" "God" would look after their needs. While Reagan was telling them the above and making deals with terrorists. Carter was telling America it had to be adult, make sacrifices, solve the energy crises and tale responsibility for its actions. His skills as a leader had little to do with why he lost the election.