The goal, as stated in the invitation, was “to strategize how to defeat Donald Trump for the Republican nomination, and if he is the Republican nominee for president, to offer a true conservative candidate in the general election”.
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But that extraordinary scenario – in which the party would seek to override the outcome of the primaries and unite around an alternative candidate – is a long shot few in the party seem to have the stomach for.
Fearful of a Donald Trump nomination to lead the GOP, conservative leaders huddled privately in Washington on Thursday in search of a plan to stop the billionaire businessman.
“Nothing has changed other than the perception that this is more likely to become an open convention than we thought before”, said Paul Ryan, who as chairman of the convention is tasked with maintaining order during the July gathering. And the race to influence those delegate selections is in overdrive, with the Trump and Ted Cruz campaigns forming teams to track who is in the running for delegate positions, jockey for their preferred candidates, and identify potential crossover supporters.
Boehner, who has endorsed John Kasich, tells the Futures Industry Association that if Republicans can’t agree on the first ballot to nominate Donald Trump, Kasich or Texas Sen.
“I’m representing a tremendous many, many millions of people”, he said on CNN.
In fact one of Trump’s supporters said there would be riots if Trump didn’t win the nomination at the convention, though riots themselves “aren’t necessarily a bad thing”. Graham said that while Ohio Gov. John Kasich is his preferred candidate, he didn’t believe Kasich has a path to stopping Trump, saying that “is most important to me”.
“I think we’ll win before getting to the convention, but I can tell you, if we didn’t and if we’re 20 votes short or if we’re 100 short and we’re at 1,100 and somebody else is at 500 or 400, because we’re way ahead of everybody, I don’t think you can say that we don’t get it automatically”, Trump said.
“I think Utah will be a better measure than Arizona”, Querard said. But Kasich may still see some room for himself at a contested convention. “But now it’s clear to everyone that this will go right through June 7, the end of the Republican primary season”.
Marco Rubio on Tuesday, taking all 99 Florida Republican delegates and forcing Rubio out of the race. Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, who is supporting Kasich, said there were calls going back and forth between the Kasich-Rubio campaign about the possibility of a joint ticket, though he said those conversations were preliminary.
Whatever the future holds for him, Trump’s sway remains undeniable.
Trump said he’s committed to another event at the same time. “Last time, it was a voice vote at 5 p.m. I’m not even sure how many people knew what they were doing”.
Votes were also being counted in Missouri, though races in both parties there were too close to call.
Ms. Clinton has at least 1,599 delegates to Mr. Sanders’ 844. “Many Democrats and many independents (are) coming in”, he said.
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Trump warned of public riots if he is denied the party’s presidential nomination after a string of primary election victories. We will win. We will win if the voter turnout is high.
