[SamAdams76]

Actually Ford came into the 1976 convention with a plurality of delegates.

It's maddening trying to research this on the Internet because the numbers are all over the place but the best count I could come up with was that 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.

At convention time, Reagan saw the handwriting on the wall, dropped his bid to force a contested convention and was gracious and honorable in his concession to Ford, who went on to win on the first ballot.

We know the rest of the story. Four years later, Reagan would steamroller to the nomination and give America 8 wonderful years of presidential service.

It is insane to compare this year to 1976 in any way. In that year, both Ford and Reagan had over 1,000 delegates and Reagan was well within his rights to contest the nomination. This year, Cruz will be lucky to have 600 delegates while Trump is virtually guaranteed to have between 1200-1400.

Trump has an overwhelming lead over Cruz and even if Cruz were to win every remaining contest, he still would not be able to hit the needed 1237.

[fortheDeclaration]

Exactly!

[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.

[WildHighlander57]

Sam Adams, many thanks for the analysis!

Ping!!!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3426357/posts?page=42#42

[Whenifhow]

PING!! -— Article and comments

Sam Adams, many thanks for the analysis! (compares this year to 1976 at the convention)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3426357/posts?page=42#42

See 86

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3426357/posts?page=86#86

See 143
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3426357/posts?page=143#143

Ted is a mercenary, a hired gun, who will be set for life financially if he can bring down and destroy the Republican Party.....These people are not worried about Hillary being President. They did just fine with Obama. And, they are perfectly willing to see 75% of elected Republicans go down in defeat. What choice do they have? But, at present Donald Trump stands in their way..

Thanks, WildHighlander57