RSC Chairman Not Ready to Support Trump

“I suppose you have to bet against it”, conservative commentator Bill Kristol, who is not a delegate, but has actively tried to recruit an independent candidate, told ABC News about the possibility of vanquishing Trump in Cleveland, “but I don’t think it’s almost as out of the question as I would have thought a few days ago”.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said talk of ditching Trump at the convention was a “Washington fantasy” that would look like the party was “trying to undo the will of the Republican electorate” and pull off “some sort of coup”.

Unlike pledged delegates, superdelegates are not final until the Democratic Party’s convention in July, but it appears increasingly unlikely that a significant number of superdelegates will switch sides, though Sanders has said he will not drop out and will attempt to convince superdelegates to vote for him. And Illinois-based conservative radio host, Ian Bayne, has encouraged Trump-bound delegates and alternate delegates to simply skip the convention, potentially leaving Ted Cruz with a majority of bound delegates when a nominee is chosen. A candidate needs 2,383 to win the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

Though it’s widely disputed, some say current rules already let delegates support whomever they please.

“All I’m doing is adapting to the circumstances”, she said.

As torn as the GOP is, many believe booting him is politically unrealistic because it would intensify the party’s rifts and is probably impossible. “Did every person who voted for Bill Clinton, did they endorse every one of Bill Clinton’s actions?”

“The American people have spoken on this, and I think, as a party, we better listen to them”, said Sen.

If Trump has a majority of delegates, does he really have to worry about rules changes that could deny him the nomination? If they’re persuaded to do so, perhaps by additional intemperate Trump comments, they can vote for rules changes that would open the door for a replacement.

Kendal Unruh, a Cruz delegate and Trump opponent from Colorado, said Friday she’s seeking support for one such proposal.

Brookover said some Cruz delegates really back Trump, and rated the chances the convention will avert Trump’s nomination at “virtually zero”.

Fellow South Dakota delegate and rules committee member David Wheeler said he would have “grave misgivings” about such a rules change, but it isn’t beyond the realm of possibility.