Not so sure about that part.
Before Reagan even kicked off his run (which everyone knew he was going to do), he was rounding up endorsements and building a grassroots campaign.
He (and republicans today should learn from this, its amazing how a lesson from several decades ago can be forgotten) was working on building from the bottom up, from local congressional seats, and local races up to governors and senators. Reagan understood that the future starts out at the bottom and rises up, and he did his best to cultivate it (in large part because the establishment had a stranglehold on so many higher ups in the party).
I'm not saying anything regarding Newt, but its very possible that Reagan and his staff may not only have read this, but spoken to Newt and numerous other politicians either in office or running for office at that time.
Magic 8 ball moment. When so and so says this you answer with this, sure, you just need to know in advance they are going to say that. But you may have found Perry’s problem, he is waiting on someone to ask the right question so he can give his recorded response.
You are spot on the money.
I was living n California when Reagan ran in 1976 and back home here in New Eng, for his 1980/84 runs. I worked on all three campaigns.
I tell you, election night, 1980, was one of the highlights of my life.
the day before, Dan Rather and ilk were saying the election is going to be 2 to 1 against Reagan. They were all furious over a call-in poll the republicans had run where everyone in the country could call in and vote.
Millions did - (not the few hundred that the usual polls are based on - and picked to skew). The results? Two to one for Reagan.
The left went apoplectic. They screamed it was unbalanced as the ‘rich republicans’ could afford to make multiple calls. (It cost .50 a call. It was long before cell phones and most phones were rotary. I remember about wearing my finger out for 2 1/2 hours to get through ONE TIME.
But Dan Rather was right. The vote WAS 2 to 1. He just wasn’t right about the winner. LOL
Hey, a thought just flitted across my mind. What if that phone call poll was Newt’s idea. Might we see that again? I always thought it was brilliant, by passing the pollsters and their “skewing”. Maybe we’ll see it again.