[Flick Lives]

The idea that delegates on the convention floor — people who are, by and large, quite conservative and are accurately described as the base of the party — would throw over not only the top delegate getter (Trump) but also the person who got the second most delegates (Cruz) is decidedly implausible given what we know about the state of the GOP today.

The delegates are there because of party favoritism and patronage. Their allegiance is to whoever granted them a position. That it is a convention of some high minded conservative thinkers is wishful thinking, but not realistic. These people will go with whoever gives them the biggest bribe.

[Iowa David]

Some are there for favoritism and patronage, but most are not.

[TheWriterTX]

Not true. The majority are volunteers who pay their own way. Lots of precincts beg people to serve as delegates at some point or another. If you want to be one, all you have to do is step up, go to the state convention, and sign your name on the line.

I'm a Trump 2016 supporter. Do I like the rumors about what the RNC intends to do? No, not at all. But don't presume everyone who goes to the convention is in bed with the GOPe or is part of some secret cabal to stop him. They aren't.

[jjotto]

You could not be more wrong.

National delegates particularly are older and wealthier in their own right, and owe nothing to the RNC and usually not even to the three RNC members in their own state.