How could Gerald Ford have won 1976?

[Fuzzy Bear]

Not pardon Nixon.

Pardoning Nixon was the pragmatic choice for Ford.  If he hadn't done so, the Democrats would have made his trial the biggest thing since Nuremberg.  Ford took his hit early on that issue and it was almost enough to overcome his extreme underdog status.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Ford should have selected Reagan as his running mate.  Reagan, if asked, would have done so, and would have helped.

That's a 281-257 Ford victory.  Iowa and Maine would have gone Carter's way, but that would hae been offset by Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas going for Ford.  I kept Alabama in the Democratic column, but that was because of Wallace's endorsement of Carter.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Ford certainly could have won if the election had continued for a little bit more.  Things were already moving in his direction, and the economy was looking up to a certain extent.

Ford should have selected Reagan as his running mate.  Reagan, if asked, would have done so, and would have helped.

Absolutely not.  Reagan may have been beloved by the party base, but in 1976 he was almost as frightening to the general population as Barry Goldwater was in 1964.  On the other hand, if he had stuck with Rockefeller, he could have further alienated the Reaganites, though they still might have swallowed their pride and vote for Ford regardless.

Reagan was NOT frightening to the American public in 1976; that was wishful liberal thinking.

Reagan was smooth and likeable in ways few Movement Conservatives are.  He was also an includer; he wasn't the kind of Movement Conservative who called every moderate Republican a RINO.