[Fred]

post to 43

Reagan endorsed AT THE CONVENTION, no comparison with Myth.

[redgirlinabluestate]

I am fully aware of that. And 2008 is no 1976. We are at war now and fighting it out to the convention when, mathematically, the deal is done is counter-productive.

This sums it up perfectly:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1970378/posts?page=139#139

[Verginius Rufus]

One other difference is that Ford narrowly beat Reagan on the first ballot at the convention...of course Reagan didn’t endorse his rival earlier when he still had a chance of winning the nomination for himself.