Republicans will have to "compromise" at their convention in order to get a nominee.

[kentuck]

And "compromise" is a dirty word to many Republicans. Former Speaker Boehner even refused to speak the word.

But, more and more, it looks as if the Republicans will not have a candidate with enough delegates to claim the nomination once they get to their convention. What do they do then?

Do they bring in Paul Ryan as a "compromise" candidate? After all, he was on the ticket in their last presidential election and many have voted for him already?

Or does Trump attempt to get the Kasich delegates, giving him enough to claim the nomination and offering Kasich the VP spot in return?

What does Ted Cruz do with his delegates? Will they find a way to "compromise" without nominating Donald Trump as their President?

What if they go to a second ballot and still, no one has the required number of delegates?

Is it possible that the Republicans will not have a nominee this election cycle and the Democrats will win by default?

Is it possible we are watching the total disintegration of a major political Party?

[NowSam]

1. Trump is dangerous

But I don't think he could become a Hitler. Cruz is more dangerous because of his extreme fanatical Religiosity.

I see a future with a Green or green like party on the Left and the current Democratic Party as the Right and the Grand old Party being absorbed by the new Dems.

Bernie bridges the gap between parties and is the most acceptable candidate for all the people.

[kentuck]

2. It does seem that the Republican Party is headed toward a new reincarnation.

The "conservative" label does not seem to carry the appeal that many thought it did.

[FBaggins]

3. I'm afraid that it doesn't work that way

Or does Trump attempt to get the Kasich delegates, giving him enough to claim the nomination and offering Kasich the VP spot in return?


Republicans can't "broker" a candidate that way. Republican delegates are not "bound" to their candidate past the first ballot. With the exception of a handful of delegates (almost all of whom come from California), they aren't even selected by the winning candidate. The state party selects who is going to the convention, and they are required to vote for the selected candidate for the first ballot. If it gets past that, they can vote however they like. This strongly favors an establishment candidate - so that rules out Trump (he wouldn't even win a large majority of "hit" delegates after the first ballot) - and even harms Cruz.

What many also aren't considering is that the convention occurs 5-6 weeks after the last primary. So they'll know for certain whether the first ballot will resolve anything with plenty of time to consolidate around someone else.

Is it possible that the Republicans will not have a nominee this election cycle and the Democrats will win by default?

No.

[kentuck]

4. I do not think Trump supporters would drop him if they had a second ballot.

And I think Cruz supporters would probably stick with him also. So that would leave the remaining delegates from the remaining candidates to change their votes. We should not assume that they will "consolidate" around someone else.

[FBaggins]

6. The point is that they aren't "Trump supporters"

They're party insiders in their state who are bound to him only for the first vote.

There are only about 250 (~170 of which are in California) who are actually selected by the candidates (and thus are likely to be loyal). The rest could have personally voted for someone else.

[kentuck]

7. There are delegates supporting Trump, Cruz, and Rubio, and others...

They can switch on second ballot but will they?

[FBaggins]

8. There's no requirement for them to "support" the person they're required to vote for

There's every reason to believe that most of the convention delegates are mainstream "establishment" Republicans and/or conservatives.

Certainly... there are some people who coincidentally happen to support Trump in that group (including in states that won't cast their first ballots for Trump) - but there's no reason to think that the attendees who actually are Trump supporters will be anywhere close to the plurality that he'll start with on the first ballot.

[BernieforPres2016]

5. It's possible we're watching the disintegration of 2 major parties

Given the DNC standing on the scale, the undemocratic superdelegate process and a Democratic frontrunner who is to the right of Richard Nixon.