[Boogieman]

“Reagan LEFT the democrat party in the early 60’s... then became a ‘viable (Republican) candidate in 1964’. The time between ‘early 1960’s and 1964 is NOT that long a time period. Certainly NOT decades.”

You think Reagan ran for President in 1964?!?

[GOPJ]

Reagan ran for Governor of California years before he ran for President... He was ‘feeling’ out a run in 1965 - not that long after switching from Democrat to Republican.
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“Reagan announced his intention to run in the Republican primary in January 1966, but he had toured California for the last six months of 1965 trying to determine if voters wanted him...”

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2013/06/how-ronald-reagan-won-his-first-election/