The last time a candidate didn’t have enough, was 1976. The convention boiled down to a contest between the no.1 and no.2 guys.
It might be that simple again. It might end up that only Trump or Cruz will be considered. Nobody can predict the future. The RNC would really do a lot of damage to the brand if they chose a third person.
Completely different scenario. There was no way the convention was going with a third candidate when one of the candidates was the sitting President. Today is completely different and the posters position is exactly right. It will be Trump or the GOPe's pick. That's it.
Thanks! That's a great comment, and does seem a plausible scenario.
In 1976 the #1 guy ended up winning, though. And he won on the first ballot.
Ford had 1,187 Ronald Reagan's 1,070 delegates. 1,130 were needed to win.
The equivalent scenario would be for Trump to come in with 1,180 votes and get 1,280 votes on the first ballot. That seems the most likely way for Trump to win now, rather than achieving his majority strictly on the pledged delegates.