Posted on 07/13/2016 3:29:39 PM PDT by Pinkbell
Anti-Donald Trump forces are within striking distance of getting a vote on a measure aimed at challenging his nomination at the GOP convention next week.
An NBC News whip count of convention Rules Committee delegates finds that the Free the Delegates movement -- a grassroots group of delegates pushing a rules change to allow bound delegates to vote their "conscience" -- can count on at least 16 delegates open to the change based on delegates' public statements, backgrounds and social media profiles.
That's more than halfway to the 28 votes Trump detractors would need to produce a minority report on their proposal, which would give it a vote on the convention floor. At least four more delegates are undecided, while the positions of another 24 remain unknown and 68 have either gone on-record as opposed or their history of support for Trump suggests they would be.
The effort could get a boost from Utah Sen. Mike Lee and his wife, two delegates on the Rules Committee that both the Trump campaign and Free the Delegates operatives expect to vote in favor of the conscience clause. Lee was an early endorser and remains a good friend of Sen. Ted Cruz, and remains fiercely critical of the presumptive GOP nominee.
Lee's support could give cover to undecided delegates wary of backlash from GOP leaders and sway some undecideds.
But a top strategist involved in the Trump campaign's delegate operations expressed confidence the proposal would die in the committee, saying the Free the Delegates movement has a "continually lessening chance" of success.
"We're peeling people off" with their whip efforts, strategist said.
If anti-Trump forces do get a minority report in hand, the movement would need majority support from the full convention on the floor — and they insist they have the votes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
“”I mean, these delegates want the world to know, and this country to know, that not every Republican’s in lockstep with Donald Trump.””
Hope Trump wins and moves Gitnmo to Romney’s district.
Most of this is wishful thinking by the lame stream media.
They must believe Trump has a good chance in the general.
will I bother to listen to Limbaugh explain how his previous idiotic comments on this were misinterpreted?
Because he went on like an absolute jackass that selecting anti-Trump delegates to fill spots won by Trump in the primaries, was all Kosher and hunky dory.
Never heard Rush say it ‘was all Kosher and hunky dory.’
He did say it was legal and that it seemed like Trump was being outmaneuvered. And a lot of other people were saying the same thing at the time. Including many people here on FR.
He ignored the possible consequences and the fact the party bosses in their “perfectly legal” meetings were “electing” delegates who did not agree with the votes of the people in the primaries.
It was all being done to stop Trump and Rush was toadying up to the Cruz supporters. It was an abomination and should have been denounced.
NBC NEWS HOPES DASHED
Yep. Mike Lee turned out to be a tremendous POS as well. Mormonism is a cult.
I am very pro Cruz and was strongly anti Trump, compared to Cruz, but Trump won. So in a choice between the Clinton crime machine Trump is light years ahead of that corrupt triton Hillery.
Trump may actually do a decent job. Hell would freeze over before Hillery did anything good for America.
Never Hillery!
Rest assured that their sad machinations will amount to no more than impotent flailing as they stand on the tracks trying to block the Trump Train. The instant of collision will be a thing of beauty to behold. They forget that we have memories, and that they will wish to stay in their cushy positions. Patience, friends, the victory will be ours at the convention, and thereafter.
You got it.
The debates should be interesting...;)
No one is worse than Hillary. No one. Let’s keep perspective.
Um, I don’t see that at all. They still hate the establishment. I promise.
There HAS to be a better way.
Open primaries and working with rules set 4 years prior, but just until the week before the convention, when new rules are written. Gah! So screwed up.
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