We are now within one week of decision day, Nov. 4. As I travel around the country, more people then usual are willing to talk about the candidates and the dilemma confronting them this year.

There is unease everywhere. The last time I recall the same degree of unease was 1980.

Back then, at this point in 1980 campaign, most polls had Jimmy Carter ahead of Ronald Reagan by 10 points. Yet, as we all know, Reagan won that election, and he won it big. Reagan won the national vote by a landslide 9 percent margin, which means during the home stretch he won by a swing of up to 19 points if the polls were accurate as reported 7-9 days out. In the Electoral College, Reagan earned election with a vote blowout of 489 to 49.

Back then, more than 86 million eligible Americans thought very carefully about what they were hearing from each candidate, then made their decision.

This year, about 125 million are projected to cast ballots, setting a new record for participation. That’s good, and, with thoughtful consideration, we can make it better. Every eligible American citizen can do their part to make this election better for our country by thinking very carefully before deciding who will get their vote.

Neither of the candidates is a Ronald Reagan. While all of us could learn much from studying our 40th President, “We the People” could learn what we need to really know about each of the two major candidates by thinking very carefully and comparing each to the “Gipper.”

Yes, Reagan was an outstanding speaker and deservedly earned acclaim as the “Great Communicator.” But Ronald Reagan had an edge. His real edge was not his speaking skills, poise and timing, although those certainly enhanced it. Reagan’s real edge was his belief system, personal principles and core values. Those informed and molded his political philosophy and the foundation upon which Reagan based his public policy positions.

Ronald Reagan won in 1980 and was reelected in 1984 by an even larger landslide because he had the courage of his convictions, was willing to stand up and clearly describe those beliefs and political positions to the American people, and explain why he believed those positions were right for America.

And, Reagan loved our country with a passion and belief that Americans could accomplish whatever they needed to get done, reminding us that “our best days lie ahead.”

Reagan took his oath of office when the country was suffering from severe economic problems (sound familiar). In his inaugural, Reagan declared “[Today’s crises require] our best effort and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds, to believe that together with God’s help we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us.”

Pausing, Reagan added, “And after all, why shouldn’t we believe that? We are Americans.”

Fast forward to now. Think very carefully about what each candidate believes about the United States of America?

•What does each candidate believe about the American people and our capacity as individuals to perform great deeds?

•What is each candidate’s belief system; is it based on Constitutional principles and America’s founding values?

•What does each candidate believe about the United States of America?

When you bring into focus the above “whats,” you get about half-way to a conclusion. Next, think very carefully about “why” the candidates believe what they do.

When you complete the exercise, you will know which candidate you should support. I plan to use this same process to determine which candidate deserves my vote.

If I get bogged down in the process, need input, or tie-breaker advice, I’ll call that guy they were interviewing on TV last week. What was his name? I think he’s a plumber.

Richard Olivastro is a professional member of the National Speakers Association and president of Olivastro Communications. He can be reached at: Rich@Olivastro.NET or 877.RichSpeaks.