Not analogous. And Cruz is no Reagan. Comparing a first term sitting senator who has no real executive or private sector experience with a two term governor of the most populous state is utter nonsense.
Ford got the nomination. Reagan was unsuccessful.
How close does it have to be before it's considered theft? Those goalposts can move a lot when you think that someone has earned something before they have.
Ask Cruz who seems to think he is entitled despite trailing in delegates, votes, and states won.
Cruz on a contested convention: It's either Cruz, Trump, or 'the people will ... revolt'
Why would that even matter? It doesn't matter if it's a first term senator, a sitting governor or a guy who builds big buildings. The same rules apply to them all. To say that Reagan had more of a right to pursue the nomination than any other candidate is patently absurd. You guys just can't stand it when your blatant inconsistencies are brought to light. And you always seem to have something illogical to explain it away.
Cruz is right. The nomination will either be Trump or Cruz, or else the end of the Republican Party as we know it will occur. Trump doesn't earn the nomination until he gets to 1237. He needs to close the deal and being the king of the deal, now is the time to make it happen. Can he? We will see. If he does, I'll be one of his many supporters. If not, then the fault lies with him, even though Trump and many of his supporters will choose to blame others instead.