Reagan was strongly critical of
détente and Ford's policy of
détente with the Soviet Union.<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEKengor200648-142"><span>[</span>141<span>]</span></a> He repeated "A Time for Choosing" around the country<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBrands2015193–194-143"><span>[</span>142<span>]</span></a> before announcing his campaign on November 20, 1975, when he discussed economic and social problems, and to a lesser extent, foreign affairs.<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPrimuth201647-144"><span>[</span>143<span>]</span></a> Both candidates were determined to knock each other out early in the primaries,<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWitcover1977433-145"><span>[</span>144<span>]</span></a> but Reagan would devastatingly lose the first five primaries beginning with New Hampshire,<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWoodard201289–90-146"><span>[</span>145<span>]</span></a> where he popularized the
welfare queen narrative about
Linda Taylor, exaggerating her misuse of welfare benefits and igniting voter resentment for welfare reform,<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBoris2007612–613-147"><span>[</span>146<span>]</span></a> but never overtly mentioning her name or race.<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTECannon2000457-148"><span>[</span>147<span>]</span></a>
In Florida, Reagan referred to a "strapping young buck",<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPrimuth201648-149"><span>[</span>148<span>]</span></a> which became an example of
dog whistle politics,<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEHaney_López20144-150"><span>[</span>149<span>]</span></a> and accused Ford for handing the
Panama Canal to Panama's government while Ford implied that he would
end Social Security.<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWoodard201289–90-146"><span>[</span>145<span>]</span></a> Then, in Illinois, he again criticized Ford's policy and his secretary of state,
Henry Kissinger.<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWitcover1977404-151"><span>[</span>150<span>]</span></a> Losing the first five primaries prompted Reagan to desperately win North Carolina's by running a grassroots campaign and uniting with the
Jesse Helms political machine that viciously attacked Ford. Reagan won an upset victory, convincing party delegates that Ford's nomination was no longer guaranteed.<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEWoodard201291Primuth201648-152"><span>[</span>151<span>]</span></a> Reagan won subsequent victories in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Indiana with his attacks on social programs, opposition to
forced busing, increased support from inclined voters of a declining
George Wallace campaign for the
Democratic nomination,<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPrimuth201649–50-153"><span>[</span>152<span>]</span></a> and repeated criticisms of Ford and Kissinger's policies, including
détente.<a href="
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPatterson2005104-154"><span>[</span>153<span>]</span></a>
