Contested GOP convention getting more likely?

CBS News ^ | March 10, 2012 | Nancy Cordes

[Cincinatus' Wife]

(CBS News) BILOXI, Miss. - The four main candidates for the Republican nomination for president say they're committed to staying in the race right up to the convention this August in Tampa, Fla.

There's just one problem: If they do, it might turn out that no one gets the number of delegates needed to win the nomination outright.

Stumping in Birmingham, Alabama, Mitt Romney continued his Southern charm offensive, celebrating an endorsement from the country band Alabama. "Wouldn't you love to hear them sing 'Sweet Home Alabama'? Wouldn't that be wonderful?" he asked a crowd at one campaign stop.

In the race to rack up delegates, Romney has a commanding lead: 396, to Rick Santorum's 146. Newt Gingrich trails with 97, and Ron Paul has 38.

But with four candidates splitting the vote, Romney may not get the 1,144 delegates he needs to clinch the nomination before the convention.

It's exactly the scenario his opponents are hoping for.

"Everybody knows these delegates who are up for grabs, very few are hard-committed," Rick Santorum contended.

Santorum said Friday he's preparing for the possibility of a "contested convention" in which he would try to persuade some of Romney's delegates to change their votes.

Gingrich said he intends to do the same. "We want to make case," Gingrich says, "to all the delegates who are not legally bound that, in fact, the other two candidates cannot beat (Presicent) Obama. And if they come to that conclusion, I think the convention may end up being one of the most surprising in modern times."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

"Everybody knows these delegates who are up for grabs, very few are hard-committed," Rick Santorum contended,

Rick is right.

Hard Delegate Count:

Romney-------- 340
Gingrich--------107
Santorum--------95
Paul--------------22

Soft Delegate Count:

Romney--------421
Santorum------164
Gingrich-------128
Paul--------------73

Delegate Totals

Hard Totals/ Soft Totals Explained.

[publius321]

“Stumping in Birmingham, Alabama, Mitt Romney continued his Southern charm offensive, celebrating an endorsement from the country band Alabama. “Wouldn’t you love to hear them sing ‘Sweet Home Alabama’? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” he asked a crowd at one campaign stop.”

I wonde if the audience laughed at him. I wonder if anyone pointed out to the panderer that Sweet Home Alabama is a Lynyrd Skynyrd song.

Typical of Romney. http://youtu.be/_L5xXtGRs_c

[TEXOKIE]

Thanks for the info and link
( http://www.thegreenpapers.com/Definitions.html#Coun ) on the hard and soft delegate count which you gave above!

[goat granny]

that will be fun.....a big bowl on popcorn and a bottle of bourbon. Glued to the TV for the evening...

[Freddd]

There’s just one problem: If they do, it might turn out that no one gets the number of delegates needed to win the nomination outright.-————

I wouldn’t call that a problem.

I say it’s just the ticket we need..

[TalBlack]

There has not been 5 seconds in the last year that I didn’t believe there would be “bloodshed” at the convention. The primaries are only mildly interesting.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

We’re going to have this out.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[1:11] Obama Sec of Defense Panetta: 'UN Trumps Congress'—Newt Gingrich: 'Panetta Should Resign Now!'

[MovementConservative]

It’s a pipe dream. The convention will not be brokered. Santorum and Gingrich have to say that because the proportional allocation has made it so they both are essentially mathematically eliminated already.

Regardless, I promise to do everything I can to defeat Barack Obama this November.

[RushingWater]

Even if Romney gets the totals he needs, the primary totals should be declared null and void because of Virginia. Oh, and I’ve had my tagline for quite a while now . . .

[basil]

I like your tagline.......

[Windflier]

I’m down with your tagline.

[Texas Fossil]

When 3 nationally known candidates are “unable” to get on the Virgina State Ballot, THERE IS A PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS DC..... AND MANY OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE LIVE IN VIRGINIA.

No accident.

It is TIME to DownSize DC!

[Tribune7]

Mitt Romney continued his Southern charm offensive, celebrating an endorsement from the country band Alabama. "Wouldn't you love to hear them sing 'Sweet Home Alabama'? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

That is so funny on so many different levels.

Maybe they they can follow it up with "What's Your Name" .

[SunkenCiv]

Yeah, right. Thanks Cincinatus’ Wife.

[StAnDeliver]

'It’s a pipe dream. The convention will not be brokered. Santorum and Gingrich have to say that because the proportional allocation has made it so they both are essentially mathematically eliminated already.'

True if they continue to chase delegates 3:1 to Mittens. If that holds, all soft delegates will blindside the two conservatives on the second ballot, if it came to that. Look for the delegates with their arms twisted behind their backs.

However, if one of the conservatives were to pledge their delegates to the other, that would get interesting real quick. But that's not going to happen, either.

[newzjunkey]

"Everybody knows these delegates who are up for grabs, very few are hard-committed," Rick Santorum contended

He doesn't even realize he's making the case why Newt should stay in too.

[newzjunkey]

Poor Romney, that’s almost a Bachmann-type gaffe.

[altura]

Kinda like Hillary putting on her black act in 2008.

“I ain’t noway tard.”

[MistrX]

Am I crazy?
I keep thinking that if we get a dead locked convention and Sarah steps up to the plate, she could get the nod.
I think she could whup Obama.