Reply #48: I think Ford's loss to Carter in 1976 can be attributed to it [View All]

[gratuitous]

A lot of Republicans sat out that year after Reagan lost the nomination. Ford had to run hard right during the primaries, then tried to tack back to the center during the general election, and it almost worked. But I think that a lot of Reaganauts figured that if they couldn't have their man, they'd rather lose.