That wouldn’t be a brokered deal but a contested convention where the delegates vote for the winner (if no one has 1237 votes—I think that’s the number).
There are other rules like you have to have won 6 states (I think) so Cruz and Trump are the only two likely to hit that threshold. Now they may change it before the convention but if they do that will be dirty and it might as well be a brokered convention.
But if Trump or Cruz hit 1237 it’s a done deal. They control their own destiny. If they can’t hit the magic number then the delegates need to wheel and deal to hit the magic number. Trump could possibly pull in Carson and get his delegates to hit the number and guess what you’d probably be happy about that—even if it is a contested convention. I’m 100% for supporting the existing rule set as is and not playing games anyway with them. If Cruz is 3 votes short of 1237 and Trump is 100 votes short...well then it’s time for the delegates to figure it out via voting. That’s how it works.
I have read they can change the rules the day before the convention if they choose to do so
after all, what was with that “loyalty oath” they ginned up last fall? New rules!
Even if no one hits 1237, a clear leader in delegates has to get the nomination- the leader in personal delegates, not delegates inherited from other candidates.
Cruz still has some chance of doing that. Though after the 15th he probably won’t, we’ll have to see.
A tough nut for Cruz is that he needs Kasich out, which will happen if Kasich loses Ohio. But if Trump wins Ohio Trump is pretty much uncatchable.
Will be an interesting night.