When someone’s name gets officially on an issued ballot, it stays there. It can’t be taken off even if they withdraw.
However, delegate selections are another matter.
They vary from state to state and process to process.
There are numerous situations where Santorum has received fewer delegates than would’ve been expected, in return for the number of popular votes he got. He has had some delegate issues throughout, because of the complexity of the process and the difficulty of running his somewhat “on a shoestring” campaign.
Now that he has suspended his campaign, it would behoove Santorum folks to look at who gets delegates, and even more importantly, who doesn’t, when all the shouting dies down from popular voting.
Vin L posted very detailed instructions to Newt supporters on the PA process in regard to delegates. I didn’t follow it because it doesn’t affect me, but was struck by the complexity.
On the larger picture, I don’t see how a suspended candidacy can wind up with delegates.
If you merely want to feel good that you voted for Santorum, that’s one thing, but my question is, is there any way a suspended candidacy can receive committed delegates, no matter any other factors that normally are involved in delegate selections?
However, if a Newt or a Paul receive votes, and if they follow the delegate selection rules in each location, they can still receive delegates, no question about it.
That denies Romney the delegates, at least on a first ballot at the convention.
Denying Romney the delegates is what those candidacies that remain ARE ALL ABOUT.
Exactly.
If someone wanted to “send a message” they would vote for the conservative who is still running — Newt.
Remember how the VA primary had conservatives who where denied their candidate on the ballot, voting for Paul?
Conservatives need to flood the polls and cast their vote for Newt - send the message that the base is not to be dismissed and laughed at again.
The RNC has ignored the 2010 conservative sweep and the will of the base. The GOP is behaving as our ruler and not as our representative.
“If you merely want to feel good that you voted for Santorum, ..”
More than wanting to feel good, I want to send the GOP establishment a message.
Newt is better than Romney, of course, but because of Newt we are stuck with Romney, which is why I have a problem voting for him.
Newt is not going to win. Romney will be the nominee, thanks to the GOP establishment, and Newt for not dropping out when he knew he didn’t have a chance.
But thank you for your informative post.