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 ...
The two are TRAITORS to the United States of America.
Have you ever seen the GOP fight this hard against the left? I have not ever, but they sure can fight us voters and Trump to protect their guy cruz.
We’re optimistic that the GOPe will get their asses kicked.
On the second vote, hundreds of Trump delegates switch to Cruz or Kasich? Doesn’t make any sense at all.
Cruz is only their guy for as long as they need him. They will dump him quicker than you can say Tea Party.
And if the GOPe rips off Trump and he doesn’t get the nomination, millions of Trump voters will sit out the electon and Clinton, or Sanders, will win.
Whhich is probably what McConnell wants anyway.
If McConnell doesn’t like Trump, that is a huge feather in Trump’s cap. McConnell may be the most repulsive human being on the planet (which isn’t easy to be, given the population of Washington D.C. today).
None of those things sound like studiously trying to remain neutral.
very true
“Have you ever seen the GOP fight this hard against the left? “
Hell no, and Ryan and McConnell financed 100% of everything Obama wanted in the last budget.
We had better have 1 million AMERICANS show up in Cleveland.
ain’t that the truth
If McConnell doesn’t like Trump, that is a huge feather in Trump’s cap. McConnell may be the most repulsive human being on the planet (which isn’t easy to be, given the population of Washington D.C. today).
All of this GOPe nonsense is greasing the wheels for Trump’s win in the general. There are good reasons these beltway clowns have a 12% approval ratings.
I’m not much of a McConnell fan, but it is just normal politics for some politicians to oppose others.
That doesn’t make them disloyal (although other things might).
Where is a terrorist-controlled aircraft when you really need one?
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