Why Alaska’s delegates were counted for Donald Trump

Alaska delegates at the Republican National Convention say their votes for president were miscounted last night, all for Donald Trump, due to what they say is a misinterpretation of state rules. “In this particular case, the state rules… says that the candidates that are submitted that run in the election, if they drop out, the bound vote gets reallocated to the only candidate left that’s running”. So, all but three of Rubio’s delegates voted for Trump.

Both Rubio and Cruz are seeking re-election to the Senate.

Given the split and the state party’s rules, Alaska GOP chair Tuckerman Babcock motioned for Cruz to be awarded 12 of Alaska’s delegates, Trump 11, and Rubio five.

After a confusing few minutes, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus announced that a rule, specific to just a few states, requires all votes be counted for Trump.

His son Donald Trump, Jr., cast the votes for the NY delegation that put the billionaire businessman over the top of the 1,237 delegates he needed to clinch the nomination, as any talk of disruptive protest votes or walkouts dissipated.

However, the secretary instead recorded all 28 delegates going in favor of Trump. “We don’t agree with that interpretation and that’s what the discussion was about”. In that poll, Cruz picked up 12 Alaska delegates.

Trump’s name was put into the nomination by Alabama Sen. Marco Rubio finished third and was awarded five delegates.

Former state Rep. Peggy Wilson dismisses the kerfuffle as naysayers desperately looking for something they can say against Donald Trump’s wife.

When asked if he would vote for Trump, Treadwell would not say yes or no but did predict the GOP nominee will “carry Alaska handily”. He said she focused on hard work and working for one’s opportunities, while he said the Obamas focus on handouts and relying on government for opportunity.

Babcock suggested that if it was a speechwriter who used such similar language, that person should accept responsibility.

Babcock said earlier Tuesday that Alaska delegates had come around to accepting that Trump would be the party’s nominee, though he said a couple might still be struggling with supporting Trump. Babcock says a Clinton presidency would spell “doom and gloom” for Alaska.

Trump finished second to Ted Cruz in the state party’s presidential preference poll in March.

After saying he would give the GOP national convention in Cleveland a miss, the former presidential candidate decided, in the end, that he would address the gathering, albeit via video. Babcock says he’ll be “all ears”.