johnpressman
Rookie
Posts: 159
|
 |
« on: March 17, 2007, 01:39:51 AM » |
|
The reason Ford chose Bob Dole as his running mate in 1976 was that he had barely beaten Reagan for the nomination. If you remember, the Reagan forces at the convention called for a vote on Rule 16C, ordering the prospective nominees to announce their Vice Presidential choices BEFORE the balloting. Reagan had declared Sen. Richard Schweiker of PA as his choice.
The real reason for the 16C ploy was to uncover Reagan supporters who were bound by their state's primary results or by unit rule to vote for Ford on the first ballot. While 16C was defeated, Ford's choice was now put under intense scrutiny and his need to appease the Conservative wing of the GOP resulted in Bob Dole. Reagan was not going to accept the second spot under any circumstances, even a "Co-Presidency" idea was floated to no avail. Rockefeller was never seriously considered for the VP slot. His appointmento to the Vice Presidency was considered a way to end his political career on a high note. If SOMEHOW Ford chose a liberal like Rocky, the Reagan supporters would have left the party, if a moderate like Howard Baker had been chosen, the fear was that the Reaganites would have given the ticket lukewarm support. NO WAY would Rocky have made a difference in carrying NY or Ohio, he would have just caused the GOP to lose key Midwestern and Border states to Carter.
|
