Last battle for Ford, Reagan

Press, 16 August 1976, Page 6

Last battle for Ford, Reagan

NZPA-Reuter Kansas City President Ford and Mr Ro'.ald Reagan have arrived in Kansas City, Missou.i, to begin the final round of their battle for the Republican Party’s Presidential nomination. Both candidates claim they have the support of enough delegates to the partv’: national convention, opening today, to win the nomination outright on the first ballot on Wednesdav, But independent surveys put both still short of the necessary 1130 votes, Mr Ford slightly ahead and about 100 delegates still undecided. The political infighting and manoeuvring to win the last handful of votes could split the Republican Party wide open. Mr Ford’s decision to come to Kansas City early iwas an indication of his keenness to enter the fray.

An incumbent President seeking re-election does not normally attend the convention until nominated.

Mr Reagan’s supporters will initiate a move today to try to force Mr Ford to name his Vice-Presidential choice —and thus possibly lose some of his delegate-votes. The tactical thinking was that if Mr Ford named, for instance, the former Texas Governor, Mr John Connally, one of the favourites, he might lose votes from northeastern states, whereas if he named someone else he night lose Southern votes.

The Reagan forces sought to persuade the convention’s rules committee that candidates must name their VicePresidential choices 12 hours before Wednesday’s balloting began. Mr Reagan has already named a Liberal Republican Senator Mr Richard Sfhweiker, of Pennsylvania, as his prospective runningmate.