Posted on 04/15/2016 3:33:53 AM PDT by markomalley
Gov. Chris Christie could help hand the Republican presidential nomination to Donald Trump because he has unusually tight control over the 51 delegates New Jersey will send to the convention in July.
Christie is one of Trump's biggest boosters and has moved aggressively with county-level party bosses to stack the delegation with loyalists who owe him favors. The governor stunned observers when he backed Trump shortly after he giving up his own White House bid. His appearance on stage standing silently and wide-eyed behind the New York businessman prompted a torrent of ridicule. Now Christie appears to be punching above his weight in helping Trump scoop up his state's voting bloc.
If Trump doesn't reach the 1,237-delegate threshold that would give him an outright majority and secure the nomination on the first ballot, he can count on the Jersey boys to stick with him, even after they're no longer forced to under the rules. Unless, of course, Christie decides to switch allegiance.The governor enjoys an unusual command over a delegation that isn't necessarily as pro-Trump as might be assumed from the billionaire's dominance of the slate. If Christie makes a move, he could cash in his delegates' IOUs and lead them into a rival camp.
In a deadlocked convention, Christie could dangle his 51 delegates in front of another candidate scrambling to reach 1,237. Political power has become diffuse, but the governor is a throwback to an era of the party strongman, affording him the ability to cut a deal without asking for permission.
"The governor will have tremendous sway over the delegation," George Gilmore, the Ocean County GOP chairman and future Trump delegate, told the Washington Examiner in a telephone interview. "He can be very persuasive."
Trump's current expectations of solid backing in New Jersey contrast with his troubles in other states.
In Arizona and Arkansas, for example, Trump won the primaries, but Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, his chief competitor for the nomination, has left the reality television star flat-footed in the fight for delegates. Those states' convention delegations are likely be filled with Cruz partisans that will abandon Trump once no longer bound to him, due to the senator's strong grassroots organization that has been successful at recruiting and installing loyal delegates.
The New Jersey delegation won't be official until the state completes its June 7 Republican primary. It's a winner-take-all contest, and Trump is expected to win easily and scoop up all 51 delegates. Trump is almost assured of winning these delegates in the primary, and retaining them in an extended convention battle, because of New Jersey's old school rules that allows political bosses to control which candidates get preferred ballot placement.
At Christie's direction and as carried out by the county GOP chairmen, Trump delegate candidates are expected to receive the "county line" on the ballot in most counties. Union County was an exception. There, Ohio Gov. John Kasich won the county line; he also is expected to do well in Monmouth County, home base to the late Rep. Bob Franks, his longtime personal friend and close confidant. Cruz has been shut out so far.
"This is all over but the shouting," said Bill Palatucci, a member of Christie's inner circle and a convention delegate by virtue of his position as New Jersey's Republican National Committeeman. "Those 51 delegates are virtually guaranteed to Donald Trump."
Christie is a lame duck whose presidential campaign went nowhere. His political power at home is far cry from what it once was.
That is plainly evident by his failure to bring top New Jersey GOP elected officials on board the Trump train. When Christie launched his presidential bid, he secured the backing of most Republican members of Congress from the Garden State, as well as top legislators in Trenton. Christie hasn't managed to replicate that support for Trump. But the governor still has a vice grip on Republican politics in state.
That makes Christie a valuable member of Trump's team, and a potential power broker in Cleveland in the event of a contested convention floor fight.
Republican insiders in New Jersey say that a fair percentage of the eventual 51-member delegation might prefer to nominate a candidate other than Trump. But they're unlikely to jump ship easily because of their loyalty to Christie, fear of crossing him, or both. The delegates' lukewarm embrace of Trump, combined with Christie's influence, also puts the governor in a position to broker an agreement to back a rival contender.
"I know a lot of these delegates personally and a lot of them are not Trump people," said Matt Rooney, an attorney in southern New Jersey who runs the political blog, "Save Jersey."
Trump leads the delegate hunt with 743, followed by Cruz at 545 and Kasich at 143. The Republicans haven't navigated an open convention in four decades.
In the years since, the controlling political boss has disappeared or been rendered irrelevant. In it's place is a decentralized grassroots army of conservatives with their own political interests, motivations and funding sources. In 2016, delegates are likely to face additional influence from a prying public and biased super PACs, not to mention the candidates' campaigns.
Whipping commitments from a majority of delegates in the midst of a very public, and possibly chaotic, arena floor fight in Cleveland could prove difficult. Exactly whom do Trump, Cruz, Kasich, or maybe a late entry contender, talk to (besides each other) to broker a deal if the neither candidate achieves 1,237 and the convention grinds to a halt?
Christie is among the few GOP leaders empowered to speak for an entire bloc without having to look his shoulder, not knowing if he can deliver. New Jersey's 51 delegates amount to 4 percent of the total needed for a bare majority and the nomination, hardly insignificant. That could make the governor an attractive target for negotiations for a Trump rival looking to swipe delegates, and the nomination, from the front-runner.
"Of all the folks going to the convention, Gov. Christie will be a very popular person to talk to," said Al Gaburo, chairman of the Somerset County GOP and future Trump delegate.
I dunno - lately I get the feeling that all the “party bosses” are trying to tip the nomination to Kasich.
If anyone “tips” the nomination to Trump, it will be the voters. Cruz is the one playing footsie with the party bosses.
I agree. Any RINO delegate who dares to vote against Trump should have his name, home address, cell phone number, pictures of family members, employer, and bank account numbers published. Let the voters take care of such a person.
The photo of Christie walking with odumbo looked like he was trying to walk odumbo off the end of a pier, too bad it didn’t happen.
The article fails to mention that trump will most likely win the New Jersey primary with over 50% of the vote and it is a winner take all primary.
What do you think the voters would do to such a person?
I wouldn't want to predict that. After all, people have found out that US elections are scams.
Why don't you ask Roger Stone?
I dunno - lately I get the feeling that all the “party bosses” are trying to tip the nomination to Kasich.
Or Ryan, or Romney, or even Jeb!
They don’t want Trump or Cruz
The article is about what happens on the second (and subsequent) ballot.
Sounds like Trump is using his establishment connections to override the votes of the people. Sad!
Why pictures of family members?
Christie thinks, "Hmm, I wonder how he'd go with a side of fries..."
Trump, "And then I said, 'Would you like some cheese with that whine?'
Christie, "I love cheese!"
Shhhhhhh. Don’t tell anyone....especially the MSM.... who might crack-up when they hear the news:
But........
Republicans, independents, white evangelicals, and non-college graduates prefer Trump. Plus Trump leads among (gasp) women, 44 percent, to 29 percent for Cruz and 19 percent for Kasich.
Too bad this contradicts the Cruz/Bush/Romney talking-points memo.
You got to be joking with all Cruz has done to get establishment delegates! Honesty is a virtue.
Why is Trump conspiring with Christie to steal delegates from Cruz in New Jersey? Why is Trump trying to disenfranchise NJ voters?
So they vote the “smart” way, for Trump. Nice family you got there. Sad to see something happen to ‘em.
Dave it didn’t work for the other side and is really dishonest for your side. I guess NJ voters still get to vote unlike some.
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