I need it explained to me just how they could do this. I thought the candidates had a filing deadline they had to meet to be eligible to run for president.
An “independent”, at this point, has no skin in the game. Has run no campaign, spent no money, and has no following pasr Lindsey graham and Paul Ryan, and what’s left of the #nevertrump clan.
Perot got in late, and was able to get on most state ballots in 1992. But, I believe after that that many states changed the process specifically to prevent another Perot.
Romney would have to run as a Libertarian.
Notice the articles about how many people were googling “Libertarian party” after Trump sealed the nomination. I suspect the GOP establishment’s plan is to get behind the Libertarian candidate as the 3rd party alternative.
Of course, Libertarians would never accept Romney as their nominee. So, how they plan to put him (or Cruz or anybody else) on the Libertarian ticket is a mystery.