Changes

In the primary Ford narrowly defeated California governor [[Ronald Reagan]]. Reagan challenged the incumbent [[Gerald Ford]] in over discredited [[New Deal]]-era economic theories, like wage and price controls which Nixon used and Ford supported. [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Karl Rove]] and [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/David_Gergen David Gergen] served as Ford delegates; [[Dick Cheney]] and [[James Baker III]] rounded up the unbound delegates for Ford.

In the primary Ford narrowly defeated California governor [[Ronald Reagan]]. Reagan challenged the incumbent [[Gerald Ford]] in over discredited [[New Deal]]-era economic theories, like wage and price controls which Nixon used and Ford supported. [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Karl Rove]] and [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/David_Gergen David Gergen] served as Ford delegates; [[Dick Cheney]] and [[James Baker III]] rounded up the unbound delegates for Ford.

Already holding the key California and Texas delegations, Reagan openly courted the unbound Pennsylvania delegation promising to put liberal [[RINO]] Sen. Richard Schweiker on the ticket. Reagan avoided the taint of the ‘smoke filled room’. Reagan and Schweicker  met personally with the entire Pennsylvania delegation to lay out the request for their support, but the idea failed.  It was a unique proposal in the television age: a candidate publicly proposed a VP pick as part of a deal before any balloting. [[John Kasich]], [[Phyllis Schlafly]], [http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/04/13/trump-ally-roger-stone-attacks-mark-levin-whore-cockroach-worm-prostitute-paid-shill-ted-cruz/209898 Mark Levin], [[Jesse Helms]], and Haley Barbour served as Reagan delegates. In the end, Ford was declared the winner.   

Already holding the key California and Texas delegations, Reagan openly courted the unbound Pennsylvania delegation promising to put [[liberal]] [[RINO]] Sen. Richard Schweiker on the ticket. Reagan avoided the taint of the ‘smoke filled room’. Reagan and Schweicker  met personally with the entire Pennsylvania delegation to lay out the request for their support, but the idea failed.  It was a unique proposal in the television age: a candidate publicly proposed a VP pick as part of a deal before any balloting. [[John Kasich]], [[Phyllis Schlafly]], [http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/04/13/trump-ally-roger-stone-attacks-mark-levin-whore-cockroach-worm-prostitute-paid-shill-ted-cruz/209898 Mark Levin], [[Jesse Helms]], and Haley Barbour served as Reagan delegates. In the end, Ford was declared the winner.   

The Democrats nominated political-unknown [[Jimmy Carter]], Governor of [[Georgia]] and peanut farmer, who won his party's nomination.  Under the new [[McGovern-Fraser]] delegate selection rules and expanded primary schedule, and the locking out party bosses, Carter was first to recognize the new system and successfully manipulated free television air time with early primary and caucus wins to pile up a rapid delegate lead and  donor contributions. Carter had scarce contacts with old party bosses and soon buried competitors working under the old system.

The Democrats nominated political-unknown [[Jimmy Carter]], Governor of [[Georgia]] and peanut farmer, who won his party's nomination.  Under the new [[McGovern-Fraser]] delegate selection rules and expanded primary schedule, and the locking out party bosses, Carter was first to recognize the new system and successfully manipulated free television air time with early primary and caucus wins to pile up a rapid delegate lead and  donor contributions. Carter had scarce contacts with old party bosses and soon buried competitors working under the old system.

So powerful was the leadership vacuum within the Democratic party left by the assassination of President [[John Kennedy]],  and disappointment with [[Lyndon Johnson]], [[Hubert Humphrey]] and [George McGovern]], Carter ran second to "Uncommitted” in the [[Iowa]] caucuses.  A follow-up finish of 29% to 23% in [[New Hampshire]] gave Carter a huge rush of free [[mainstream media]] attention about the “victor” and Carter rode the momentum all the way to the White House.

So powerful was the leadership vacuum within the Democratic party left by the assassination of President [[John Kennedy]],  and disappointment with [[Lyndon Johnson]], [[Hubert Humphrey]] and [[George McGovern]], Carter ran second to "Uncommitted” in the [[Iowa]] caucuses.  A follow-up finish of 29% to 23% in [[New Hampshire]] gave Carter a huge rush of free [[mainstream media]] attention about the “victor” and Carter rode the momentum all the way to the White House.

==General election==

==General election==