[OneVike]

And in all of those primaries did you ever hear a case where someone who was mathematically eliminated stayed in the race just to force a convention fight?

Ronald Reagan 1976

He knew he was mathematically eliminated and forced a convention fight which Ford prevailed when uncommitted delegates from Mississippi switched at the convention to vote for Ford on the first ballot.

See, Reagan was hoping for a 2nd ballot or for some of Fords uncommitted delegates to switch to him.

So was the greatest President in history, Ronaldo maximus Reagan, also a cheat and a liar when he lost to Ford at the convention?

[fortheDeclaration]

Regan and Ford were in a dead heat regarding delegates, that is why neither could get the majority.

So, Reagan was not mathematically eliminated, both men had divided the Party.

As for 1976, Ford lost after the contested convention, which gave us Jimmy Carter!

[fortheDeclaration]

Candidates[edit]

This was the last time during the 20th century that a primary season had ended without a prohibitive nominee.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_presidential_primaries,_1976

So, Reagan didn’t just stay in to stop Ford from getting the nomination, he had a legitimate chance of winning.