The bad NH news for Trump is that the ‘little’ candidates look like they will keep him from getting a majority of the delegates. (No, it doesn’t take a majority of the votes to do that. Romney did it with just less than 40%)
It takes winning 8 state delegations to get the nomination.
It takes 8 state delegations to be placed in nomination.
It takes a majority of all delegates to actually get the nomination.
It takes 8 state delegations to be placed in nomination.
It takes a majority of all delegates to actually get the nomination.
This is about keeping these “players” playing in order to get an open convention where they will try to slay TRUMP.
You brought up an excellent point and reminder.
Romney “fixed” it in ‘12 in order to stop insurgent Ron Paul by show time, (at convention).
But I agree it's not just winning 8 states, the rules say a majority of the delegates in each of 8 states. So if everyone stays in, then the nomination might be determined by the winner takes all and winner take most states.
However New Hampshire does have a 10% inclusion threshold. So it's possible when the <10% candidates are excluded that Trump will get >50% of the delegates.
South Carolina on Feb 20 is a winner take all state. Many of the Super Tuesday states have 10% to 20% thresholds.
Iowa doesn’t count towards the 8 for Cruz because Cruz didn’t win a majority.