Campaigns secretly prep for brokered GOP convention

Politico ^ | 02/16/16 | Ben Schreckinger

[GregoTX]

Mysterious outside groups are asking state parties for personal data on potential delegates, Republican campaigns are drawing up plans to send loyal representatives to obscure local conventions, and party officials are dusting off rule books to brush up on a process that hasn’t mattered for decades.

As Donald Trump and Ted Cruz divide up the first primaries and center-right Republicans tear one another apart in a race to be the mainstream alternative, Republicans are waging a shadow primary for control of delegates in anticipation of what one senior party official called “the white whale of politics”: a contested national convention.

[yoe]

With a Brokered Convention the USA will get Hillary R. Clinton...because...the two men who can beat Ms. Clinton are the most vilified by the opposition and by Republicans who are all too happy with the Status Quo! Trump or Cruz can and will beat Ms.Clinton....remember that the status quo/establishment/Washington Mafia/Socalists/Marxists and anti-Americans who have cushy jobs for government or private money like George Soros....REMEMBER this is what Americans must vote to defeat in Nov. 2016 OR the latter will, will elect Ms. Clinton and keep their status quo.

[Georgia Girl 2]

There are always a few voters who resist the inevitable emergence of one candidate as the likely winner.

[libstripper]

There’s a huge problem with all this BS about a brokered convention: the RNC rules. The most important is the rule that requires any candidate to have a majority of delegate votes in at least eight states to have his name entered as a potential nominee. Will someone here please name just five, not eight, states where anybody but Trump will have majorities of delegates. Thus, it looks like Trump will enter the convention as the only candidate who will even be able to have his name considered for nomination. Poof goes the “brokered convention.”

[cp124]

It will be Bush vs Clinton. Already chosen for the elites quite a while ago. The GOPe is having a harder time getting the little people to get in line. They will.

[2ndDivisionVet]

So that’s why Jeb is still in the race?

[bolobaby]

How do i know Trump can't win in the general? Well, let's put it this way: I have more evidence that he CAN'T win than you have that he CAN win.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/2016_presidential_race.html

Oh, I know, I know... "but the election is 9 months away!!!"

But here's the point - this is the evidence we have NOW. Trump will lose, based on his unfavorables.

So there is two pieces of evidence that he'll lose in the general and Cruz would do better. Can you provide any evidence beyond primary plurality voting (which means *nothing* in the general) that would indicate otherwise?

[odawg]

I addressed the problem of that poster trying to spin things to his advantage. I have never encountered anything, anywhere, like th venom and hatred I see with Cruz supporters.

The problem will not be addressed, certainly, by the ones spewing the venom.

[orinoco]

I am sorry bolobaby. I know you put a lot of effort out to get your favorability rating chart. But that is not sufficient evidence. What is the favorability chart for his Democrat competitor, namely Hillary and Bernie? You are comparing favorability with Republican primary competitors and Trump is beating them in the polls. Trump looks favored to win in SC. So favorability does not translate to a vicotry or similary unfavorability does not translate into a defeat. If he wins the Republican primary he will be compared to the favorability of the Dem candidate. But it will be policy that will make the difference and I think the country has had enough of the socialist progressive left Democrats.

[bolobaby]

Check the RCP head to heads, then.

But again - I provide TWO forms of evidence that Cruz will be better than Trump in the general...

1. Currently available head to head polls where Cruz does better
2. Favorability ratings of the candidates showing Trump with much, much higher unfavorables

You provide nothing, just some assertion that “Trump can WIN!”

Yeah. Based on what? I gave you my “based on-s.” You’ve got nothing but criticism and no counter evidence. So, given that, I’ll stick with the ACTUAL evidence instead of some vague assertion that the amazingly dislikable Trump can somehow win.

[unlearner]

“There are always a few voters who resist the inevitable emergence of one candidate as the likely winner.”

As evidenced by so many who are staying in the race. But it is a LONG way to the finish line. Right now it is Trump’s to lose.

A lot can change in a few weeks though. It may depend on people who have not even decided yet.

[orinoco]

You are doing well in the criticism department yourself. You can research some of the threads from a couple of weeks ago and you will find that Trump beats Hillary around 44 to 40.
Sanders may not win the Dem nomination so we will have to wait and see. However, that said, the focus right now is on the Repub primary. Trump will focus on the Dem opponent after the primary. Once the record of the Dem has been exposed the polls will change so I will not put much emphasis on them right now it is too early. I am picking the Republican candidate based on policy and not on polls. I like what Trump is offering and should he win the nomination he will have my support. Cruz is my second pick, although of late I am disappointed in his tactics, and the same applies to him as well.

[bolobaby]

You are being lied and exaggerated to about Cruz’s tactics. Remember that.