[M. Thatcher]

Ford was 43 delegates ahead (1,121 to Reagan's 1,078). In that year, 1,130 was the required amount so Ford was just 9 delegates short. Reagan only needed 58 delegates to put him over the top. So realistically, Reagan had a case for forcing a second ballot but it was a long shot as Ford only needed nine - which he ended up securing.

True, and it was Paul Manafort who successfully ran Ford's 1976 convention delegate battle. Manafort did such an impressive job that Reagan hired him four years later, and Manafort secured the delegates for Reagan at the 1980 convention.

When it comes to securing delegates needed, Trump has the best guy in the business in Paul Manafort.

[ichabod1]

As he said, Cruz was about to hit a “rough patch” a couple of weeks ago, an understatement worthy of the Iron Lady herself.