The Michigan Daily
Vol. LXXXVI, No. 9-S Ann Arbor, Michigan-Saturday, May 15, 1976 Ten Cents Twelve Pages
Reagan gears up for Mich.
Calls state race
an 'uphill fight'
By JENNIFER MILLER
special To The Daily
Former California Gov. Ronald Reagan whirled into Detroit
yesterday in an admitted long shot attempt to win the May 18th
primary in President Gerald Ford's home state.
Reagan, who was in town to address members of the Economic
Club of Detroit, held a brief press conference prior to his speech.
WINNING IN Michigan will be "an uphill fight," said Reagan,
winner of five of the last six GOP primaries. He added, however,
that a defeat here would not be as fatal to him as one would be
to Ford.
"It would be something of a miracle" to defeat Ford, Reagain
conceded.
Reagan stressed his criticism of big government several times,
stating his desire to give state and local governments authority
to administer funds, and thereby lighten tax loads.
WIIEN ASKED if he would be willing to debate the Democratic
presidential nominee, as in the Kennedy Nixon debates of 1960,
Reagan replied, "A debate is a campaign strategy, you're asking
me to make a premature announcement on my strategy." But he
added that he probably would be willing to do so.
Reagan acknowledged that in the fight against recession and
unemployment, economic dislocation is bound to occur.
"But, you do what you can," he added. "Tell people the truth,
estimate on a solid base of where it will get better, and I believe
the American people will choose to tighten their belts and hang on."
Reagan spoke for 20 minutes to an attentive crowd of over
2,000 businessmen and women gathered in the River View Room
at Cobo Hall for an Economic Club luncheon.
SURROUNDED BY Secret Service agents, Reagan appeared
relaxed and jovial before the standing-room-only crowd.
See REAGAN, Page 10
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL contender Ronald Reagan fields questions at a press conference
yesterday before heading to a speaking engagement at the Economic Club luncheon at Cobo
Hall. The former California governor is making a go at it in Michigan though he says a vic-
tory over Ford on May 18 would be a "miracle."
ATTACKS CARTER:
Wallace shows old fire
By MIKE NORTON
Special To The Daily
tE)TROIT-Presidential contender George Wal-
lace showed a little of his old fire last night
as he worked a crowd of 250 faithful supporters
at the Metro Airport Ramada Inn, charging fellow
candidate Jimmy Carter with "riding both horses"
and lying to the public.
Wallace thundered into the excited audience,
recounting his familiar accusations that Carter
had long ago courted his support and was now
denying any contact with him. He blamed the
Georgia frontrunner's early successes this year
on reaction from the Watergate scandal and
Wallace's own health problem.
"AT LEAST Mr. Udall says what he means,"
said the Alabama governor. "We certainly dis-
agree on a lot of things, but you sure know where
he stands. That's more than I can say for Mr.
Carter."
Wallace also reproached the news media for
"unconsciously" ignoring him, reminding his
rapt listeners: "I've got the second most popular
votes of any candidate, almost a million more
than Mr. Jackson or Mr. Udall."
At one point, the crowd chanted "We want,
Wallace! No crossover!" stamping their feet in
time. Wallace was quick to assure them that
there would be no crossover of votes to California
Republican Ronald Reagan, as many observers
have predicted.
"WE'RE GOING to do well here in this great
state of Michigan," he told them. "Because you
know that I'm the only one of all these candidates
that's always stood for the things that people
like you and me believe in."
"I represented you when no one else would-
and you know it," said Wallace. The crowd roar-
ed. "I have fought all these years against gov-
ernment control of your schools and your neigh-
borhoods."
"Yes, you did!" somebody yelled.
THE CROWD gave him more cheers when he
spoke of the "eggheads" who spent too much
time trying to solve the problems of "certain
people" while thousands fled the cities; they
applauded his statement that "the average
American wants to see criminals given sure and
swift punishment, and wants to see the electric
chair brought back to this country." Clearly, he
could do no wrong in their eyes.
These were, for the most part, the people who
had helped him win his startling 1972 Michigan
victory, and he reminded them of it, lowering
his voice to d gruff whisper.
"When I lay there, struck down by a bullet,
you did something that, with God's help, made
me recover," he said. "I'll always be grateful
for the support I've gotten from you in the past,
and I hope you'll vote for me again."
"WE SURE WILL, Governor!" cried a fat
woman in the gathering.
"These trends toward socialism must be stop-
ped," said Wallace.
"You tell 'em, George!" shouted a little man
in a blue soit, wearing a WALLACE YES, BUS-
ING NO sign on his plastic straw hat.
"Let's show the news media," said Wallace.
"Let's surprise them here in Michigan. You get
out and vote, and you get your friends and
neighbors out to vote. We'll turn this thing
around"
Wallace