Posted on 04/18/2016 2:21:04 PM PDT by HomerBohn
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he is "increasingly optimistic" that voting at the Republican National Convention in July will go to a second ballot, seeming to suggest he does not want to see Donald Trump become the nominee.
The Kentucky Republican has studiously sought to remain neutral in public, although he has on occasion condemned Trump's remarks and reportedly told senators in private earlier this year that down-ballot Republicans might drop Trump "like a hot rock."
McConnell's comments on WHAS-TV in Louisville over the weekend gave additional insight into his thinking.
McConnell explained the convention process that requires a candidate to amass the support of 1,237 delegates in order to clinch the nomination. While it's still possible for Trump to reach that number ahead of the GOP convention in Cleveland, it'll be tough for him to do. And if he doesn't succeed, voting would then proceed to a second ballot, with a majority of delegates free to vote for whomever they choose.
"I'm increasingly optimistic that there actually may be a second ballot," McConnell said.
"I want somebody who can win in November and the whole process is about trying to beat Hillary Clinton in November," he said. "And I think our delegates, if they end up actually having the latitude to make a decision, which would occur on the second and third ballot, are going to be interested in who can win."
He said it would then be up to Trump, challengers Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, "or anyone else," to make the electability argument.
McConnell said that he anticipates he himself will be a delegate, and "on the second ballot I'll be free to do whatever I want."
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Yeah, like they actually want to beat Hillary.
This bloody coward is completely tone deaf as usual.
I think you should replace Cruz’s face with Romney’s.
[Note: I haven’t said I support Cruz.]
So in the first round is Mitch a Cruz, Trump, Katich or Rubio delegate?
Whenever I think I cannot despise McConnell any more than I already do, he gives me a reason to do so.
So this is what it takes to wake up and get involved? He’s no Energizer bunny. We need to replace him.
So they’re pretend delegates but they could put him over the top. Yeh...that makes sense...if you failed math.
I hope some Trump people are in there counting the votes...
Prediction: If Trump is elected, McConnell fast tracks Obama’s SCOTUS nominee for approval prior to the inauguration.
Exactly right. McConnell doesn’t fear Hillary. He’ll give her everything she asks for, just like he did with Obama.
BINGO!
Since, according to Manafort, he’s working with the Trump campaign, I would have thought McConnell would have found new respect here.
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