A Brokered Convention = A Broken Convention.

[denem]

It is pure fantasy to suggest that some White Knight could step in at last minute to save the Republican Nomination. The idea that the rank and file would rally behind a Nominee that none of them had voted for is ludicrous. 'We couldn't get our act together so you can have another Bush'? Say What?

And, if, say, Gingrich had gained the most delegates, and the Establishment clobbered all the other delegates together to install Romney, there would be more than Hell to pay.

But it would be Must See TV.

Perhaps an "Historian' could tell us, when was the last time a Candidate, with the most Delegates, did NOT receive the Nomination?

[bluestateguy]

1. In answer to your specific question, I don't know

But I do know that the party has not even gone to a second ballot at their convention since 1952.

[customerserviceguy]

3. And that was from the time

before more than a small handful of states held primaries. It was before TV, for goodness sakes, most people didn't have it.

It was the days of the smoke-filled rooms, where "favorite son" candidates came to the conventions, ready to wheel and deal some votes in the dark, to find someone that the party bosses decided on. It just simply couldn't pass muster in the Internet age.

Nobody knows what kind of fresh hell would emerge from a convention where the nominee did not arrive in hand with a first-ballot victory. That is exactly the kind of turmoil that Rush Limpballs was trying to make for us four years ago with his Operation Chaos.

I say we find a way to pay them back for it.

[grantcart]

2. You cannot compare because of the change in the rules

Before they had winner take all, this time except for Florida the primaries are proportional so it will be the first time in decades where a candidate will not have the majority before the convention.

Most people don't remember but Huckabee didn't stop campaigning 4 years ago even though McCain had a huge lead, he stayed in the race until he had an absolute majority.

Now with speakers fees and TV contracts there is no reason to drop out.

The term 'brokered' is no longer apt, IMO because it will be more transparent and more of an 'open' convention because of all of the media and competing interests, the day of 'bosses' has been replaced by Tea Party and Ron Paul insurgents.