I love that the party elders re-set the rules to favor their pre-determined guy (Yeb) and those very same rules are what is costing them not only the nomination, put control of the party apparatus. This is where Christie’s value comes to the fore. He has intimate knowledge of the inside and the how the rules work.
Rule 40 was supposed to stymie a movement candidate by hobbling their ability out of the gate to gather a majority of delegates in any state (the requirement was raised to 8 from 5). BOOM! Trump already has three before Super Tuesday and the rules, as set by the GOPe, now make it likely that Trump will run the table and wrap up the nomination on March 15.
It was supposed to be Yeb who wrapped it up on March 15. Oops. The GOPe has truly been hoisted upon their own petard this year.
The 8-state rule is that a majority of delegates must be pledged to a candidate. Just winning a primary doesn’t count. Only South Carolina counts for Trump.