[Cboldt]

-- It isn't that Cruz has a good ground game. It's that the GOPee has planned this "Win by Losing" strategy from the get-go. Cruz is merely their last ditch candidate. --

By that logic, and I agree with it, it isn't fair to either credit Cruz with a great ground game or to blame him for rigging the ground game. He's the beneficiary of a larger game.

[RoosterRedux]

Yep. And I don't think it is being coordinated at the top. I think it's the grass roots acting naturally to save their positions and power from the Trump wrecking ball.

Though we can be sure that Manafort plans to win on the first ballot, I am curious as to what his plan B might be (and you know he has one because he is the very best at this stuff).

I am guessing that if his intel tells him he cannot attract enough delegates in a second ballot, he will cut a deal with Kasich.

Of course, the rules haven't been develop for the convention, but I would hope the Presidential nominee and the Veep can combine delegates to clear the 1237 hurdle.

As an aside, RNC member Randy Evens said last week (I heard him live on NPR) that if Trump hits 1,100, Manafort could probably round up enough unbound delegates to clear 1,237.