The RS supporters should not be surprised and you are right that it is common practice for the other candidates to rally behind the nominee.
Caww, but it isn’t official yet and MR doesn’t have the necessary delegates to date. I read that it was against the RNC rules #11 and #38 for the RNC to declare the nominee before the delegates have been obtained.
IMO the entire primary process was rigged this go round.
No Romney doesn't have the delegates....but they are, with certainty, in play behind the scenes. Pauls’ stash has them worried...he's been piling up Paul delegates...even faking they're Romney delegates to stack the deck.
Yes it's true...Romney jumped ahead and declared his win at the RNC....but they've all learned they can and do break the rules to get to the finish line...they'll let the lawyers figure it out after the fact...and simply apologize if they were wrong...meanwhile they've already moved into the zone they wanted and little to do to take them out once in.
Remember when Romney was asked about if he'd go to war with Iran...he said he'd let the lawyers handle it. That's how Romney operates....much about lawyers and deception.
As for being rigged....It was rigged clear back when Romney stood down and gave McCain the baton....he was promised he'd run on the GOP ticket then...that's why his wife said not long ago..”It's his turn”.
It's been rigged for quite a while, ma'am...'open primaries' designed to help DEMOCRATS select the Republican nominee...