I generally read biographies and historical “discovery” and travel books (like Magellan’s voyage, etc.). I picked up Reagan’s biography by the very partial Dinesh D’Souza and came across this passage about Reagan’s unsuccessful run for the GOP nomination against incumbent Ford in 1976:

“Reagan was expected to win the first primary in the conservative state of New Hampshire, but Ford beat him narrowly and went on to win in Massachusetts, Florida, Illinois, and Vermont. The consensus within the GOP was that after five losses in a row, Reagan was finished. One after another, Republican governors, senators, and mayors urged Reagan to withdraw. Even Barry Goldwater endorsed Ford and called on Reagan to get out…Reagan’s campaign manager, John Sears, on his own initiative set up a meeting with the Ford campaign to negotiate his candidate’s withdrawal. Yet, sitting in his hotel room, with campaign deeply in debt, Reagan refused to give up…”I’m taking this all the way to the convention,” Reagan said, “even if I lose every damn primary between now and then…”

Reagan kept fighting, narrowly lost to Ford for the nomination, and came roaring back in 1980 to beat Jimmy Carter, who had defeated Ford in the ‘76 general election.

Is Hillary hanging on in hopes of a McCain victory and her eventual victory in 2012? McCain would not be a difficult incumbent to beat, considering his age. Plus, he may not even run again.

I’ve never heard anyone say that the long nomination contest between Ford and Reagan cost Ford the general election, but Clinton will certainly be blamed if Obama loses. Of course, if it sets Hillary up for 2012, she will not care.

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