Does anyone know of a good resource that explains how a brokered convention would actually work?
For instance, why would the candidates who made it through the primaries be excluded? And what happens to their delegates, would they simply be free to vote for anyone they choose?
What’s the point of having primaries then?
Most delegates are bound through the first ballot.
Subsequent ballots would be subject to massive wheeling and dealing and backroom deals among those representing both established candidates who came to the convention with pledged delegates and any dark horse latecomers. Swapping of favors and promises, etc.
That’s how it was done in the old days. Compromise was what gave us the unlikely duo of Kennedy/Johnson, who despised one another.
I doubt it will happen this year, but this political junkie would find it great fun.
Of course, this political junkie doesn’t really like anyone currently running and will gladly vote for a baked potato over Barry Obama. No horse in the GOP race, so nothing to lose, just a spectacle to watch.
Candidates who drop out release their delegates usually asking them to vote for another candidate.
At convention time the first roll call is done. The vast majority of delegates are pledged\bound to a candidate. If no one has 50% + 1 of the votes there is a short recess and then a revote. The difference being that delgates are no longer pledged or bound to a particular candidate.
At this point ANYONE can be vote for.
The last time this happened by '76 Ford V. Reagan.
In 1924 it went 103 rounds.