Yes, I’m well aware of Reagan’s first two attempts at running for President, and what the outcome was. I didn’t realize I would need to specify that I was speaking about his 1980 campaign. It’s also important to differentiate the differences between 1968, 1974, and 1980 with respect to the party machine in place for the GOP candidates who won those primaries. Reagan didn’t have the organization in those first two tries that he had in 1980.
True, but then, it was his exposure in the first two that allowed him to have the organization in 1980.