Cruz and Kasich need a collective 370 delegates from the remaining 916 to block Trump

[morningfog]

Can they do it?

Almost all of the 19 remaining states are winner take all. Cruz and Kasich need to win enough of those states to move 370 of the remaining delegates into their corner to block trump on the first ballot.

I am rooting for a brokered repub convention which denies trump, splits the party and leads to internal revolt.

To that end, as much as it makes me vomit in my mouth, I am pulling for Cruz.

Cruz, by the way, would need 825 (66.7%) of the remaining delegates to win a first round ballot. That ain't gonna happen.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. If it goes to a brokered convention, neither Trump or Cruz are coming out as the nominee.

And that's a good thing. I'll take our chance with a GOP milquetoast as opposed to a crazy person.

[morningfog]

2. Exactly. But, can Cruz and Kasich make it happen?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. Maybe.

Trump and Kasich won't, though.

[Hortensis]

5. Who's the milquetoast in this scenario?

I'm curious, but I'm also 200% opposed to anyone who'd put that sleazy smile back on Charles Koch's face. IMO, our chances are far better with the crazy man.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. I don't know. Ryan, Kasich, Romney.......

We've been dealing with Koch money for decades and it sucks.

Doesn't suck as much as a proto-fascist, though.

[Hortensis]

10. IMO, it's going to suck far, far worse than ever before

if they get their majorities at the district and supreme court levels. We are at a critical point in history.

The "proto-fascist" has a long history of being more liberal than otherwise, bigoted, yes, but a real milquetoast himself that way compared to 20 million other Americans. Can we depend on that if he got in office? No, but IMO the serious constraints on a president's power in place and by Congress and SCOTUS make him a far, far, far safer choice than the defeat for the people that would be guaranteed by majorities on our federal courts busily legally dismantling the liberal foundations of our government from the inside.

We need to be brave. No matter who the GOP candidate, most of the right will vote for him for president. As an opponent, The Donald's like a dream walking.

"The only valid functions of government are protection of property and person." Charles Koch

[Cosmocat]

7. IMO Cruz will be the nominee

1) He will have, by far, the most pledged delegates after Trump
2) He will have the most loyal and diehard element of the party, the evangelicals, behind him

I think the man is a toxic and dangerous mix of religious fundamentalism and corporatism, but he has probably run the best campaign this cycle, from a traditional standpoint, very steady, no big errors, quickly dealt with mistakes from staff decisively, has been very mature, ...

[morningfog]

4. .

[Calista241]

6. If the Republican Party moves in such a way as to deny Trump

Through rule changes, or outright bribery, I don't think Trump will have any problems with giving them all the finger and running as a 3rd party candidate.

The Repubs will certainly be conscious of the fact that Trump could run third party if they don't treat him fairly.

[Cosmocat]

9. YEP

I think they are in tough spot, and frankly letting Trump get the nomination will be the least damaging.

Whatever issues come from it will be done and over with once he is out of the picture, they can tell their rabidly stupid portion of their voting block they had their pick of the kind idiot and it didn't work out, now stfu and it will go back to business as usual.

If they deny him the nomination, they will lose a good 20% or more of their rabidly stupid base that has helped them win a LOT of elections the last several decades while they have whistled at what Trump says directly forever. These people are THAT virulent if Trump gets denied at the convention they will not vote R again.

[FLPanhandle]

11. The republican leadership wants a brokered convention too

It's the lesser of two evils for republicans.

A brokered convention will kill their chances this election year.

However, Trump winning outright will destroy the republicans for years to come. The entire party would collapse.

I'm rooting for Trump.

[The2ndWheel]

12. Divide and conquer

Everyone loves it when you're on the side that benefits from it.

[KamaAina]

13. Kasich could well pick off NY and CA

which by themselves might add up to close to that. Not a lot of evangelicals or whoever the hell is supporting the vulgar talking yam in either.

[morningfog]

14. Combined 267 in NY and CA, CA is winner take all, NY is winner take most.