You know who does “own” the delegates, the voters. for Cruz to say he’s found a way to swipe those delegates if they don’t get it right the first time is evil.
Whaaaaaa!
Voters believing the delegates are bound for life are ignorant.
There is no such implied commitment.
It would also be a lack of comprehension of what delegates are.
Trump delegates are Trump supporters. They are going to need convincing cause to change their votes form the guy they support. Same with Cruz delegates, Kasinich delegates, Rubio delegates...
Delegates are obligated, but generally not required, to support the guy they support. It only comes into play where oddball stuff happens - like a late dropout, or no majority. Once a majority is actually had, traditionally everyone votes for the winner to make it symbolically unanimous.
That *in theory* the delegates can change their minds really only serves to keep the candidates in line past the convention vote, to the extent that is needed.
Delegates aren’t theoretical constructs owned by the Illuminati. They are people who were primarily selected based on their support for the candidate they support. They have to be convinced to do otherwise.
Similarly, with the Electoral College, Electors have been free to switch since the first Federal election. In the last century, only a handful have done so, and that both after the result was a foregone conclusion, and then simply as a gesture to make a point, like reversing the President/VP order.
If there is such switching to go on, it is because no candidate has achieved a majority, or other such special circumstance - like If the candidate suddenly ticked off his delegation.