Reply #70: Reagan was one year older

[Tom Rinaldo]

But Reagan was building off of almost stealing the Republican Presidential nomination away from Ford in 1976. So Reagan had a lot of momentum inside his party to secure the nomination four years later, and even so Reagan's age may well have factored more against him in the General Election had Carter not been perceived as week in 1980 for his inability to resolve the Iranian student hostage crisis.

But usually life can be viewed as a series of modified Bell curves. There are exceptions to the rules at both ends but most of the action happens closer to the center. Reagan was the exception, and special circumstances favored him.

While I disagree with your position about the necessary sequence of elected offices, I can accept that you hold it. We have differing sets of priorities over what is most important. I believe that if Wesley Clark does not run for President in 2009 the odds become quite slim that he would ever realistically have another serious chance. And if he does not run for President, I would rather he stay involved in shaping issues at the national and international level than become Governor of Arkansas, no offense meant to Arkansas, I just belief that a broader role better suits Clark's talent and calling.