Romney: 'With Three Candidates I Think Trump Gets It on the First Ballot'

Yahoo Finance from The Fiscal Times ^ | Apr. 18, 2016 | Rob Garver

[Innovative]

After Donald Trump began racking up big victories deep into the Republican primary election, there was a widespread call for his remaining challengers to clear the field and let one person consolidate the anti-Trump vote. Those calls intensified briefly when the field was whittled down to its current three, with more than a little anger Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who hadn’t won anywhere but his home state.

Those calls have been muted recently though, as the GOP seemed to accept that Kasich was in it for the duration, regardless of his mathematical elimination from the race for the 1,237 delegates needed for a first-ballot majority.

[Jewbacca]

“Tomorrow Cruz will be mathematically eliminated as well.”

That’s a calendar-based accident; in 2 weeks Trump will be mathematically eliminated, as well.

We’ve passed the Danube, for good or ill.

[freespirit2012]

I agree that Romney is a decent guy— he is just missing something, I think a common sense or an inability to deal with reality and the whole thing is perplexing to me, I can’t psychoanalyze the guy.. He just does buffoonish stuff.. and these comments fits right in with that tendency..

[freespirit2012]

HUH? How do you figure in two weeks Trump will be eliminated?

[Maelstorm]

I think it is very realistic that he does. Now if he doesn’t then the GOP-E will have opened the gates of hell on themselves and I think many will regret what they thought they desired. I hope that Trump has the nomination locked before the convention because the alternative is going to be a really bad thing at least short term. I don’t know why they are taking this path. It is crazy because it is like handing Trump a sword of power to lop off their heads.

If Trump gets the nomination and loses then they would be able to save some face however given how big of a role they’ve plaid in undermining their own front runner its going to be hard to blame a Trump loss only on Trump. If Trump doesn’t get it and the party loses then they own it big time and depending on the level of betrayal as much as 60% of the GOP could leave the party. If they try to shut out both Trump and Cruz its going to be very bad.

The most conservative approach is to get behind the front runner like we did with McCain and Romney. That is the only way we can hope to defeat Hillary. Trump will need to make some big deals with Cruz and others to heal wounds but I believe he can do it. A contested convention though is something where even winning is a loss and none of us should want that.

[Vince Ferrer]

It was Romney who first publicly voiced the strategy that people should vote for Kasich in Ohio, and nowhere else.

[Donglalinger]

With two candidates also

[freespirit2012]

and the irony is that these comments are buffoonish, but he is right.. about 3rd party hurting the chances to stop Trump... It just completely contradicts what he said before and is pointless because even with just two candidates Trump still wins..

[Skybird]

Dirty Mittens just needs to go away. I regret voting for him and lyin’ RINO Ryan even when there was no alternative choices remaining.

[miss marmelstein]

My point was in my post. Can’t you read?

[Jeff Head]

I believe Trump will have the 1237+ going into the convention.

Where Cruz has won...he has done well, and despite what some say, this includes in Primary States.

He has won four Primarily States (TX, OK, ID, and WI), five caucus states (IA, AK, KS, ME, and UT), and three district/state convention states (CO, WY, ND)...although ND delgates who may have indicated their preference, are not actually committed to vote that way).

Here's a break down of how he has done in each.

IMHO, and as a Cruz supporter, it is clear that despite being well organized, and despite being able to generate a strong presence in this Primary...Cruz is just not going to have the umph and ability to overtake Trump.

Trump is most likely going to get to 1,237...perhaps by the end of May, and certainly IMHO by the June 7th vote with CA and NJ and others.

It is clear, to me, at this point...and particularly after May 1st)...that the best thing for the country will be for the two...Trump and Cruz...to find some accommodation, where Cruz throws his support behind Trump.

That would slam dunk the GOPe as it should be (despite what some try and trot around, Crux is NOT the GOPe. They are trying to use him, but his entire history in the Senate shows that he has stood against the GOPe). Cruz throwing in behind Trump would also unite the vast majority of the party and create a Trump ticket that can win in November.

Cruz may win three or four more votes...but it is not going to stop Trump is Trump takes all (or the vast majority) ot New York and then PA.

[Lazamataz]

Since Cruz threw in with the Elitist/Globalist Cabal, perhaps he can the the G.H.W.Bush to Trump’s Reagan.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Trump wont get the delegates because as we have seen Cruz is allowed to steal them.

[TomGuy]

Romney has chosen to feverishly back the most conservative candidate.

You made a funny.

LOL

Romney backed Rubio in the FL primary.

Romney backed Kasich in the OH primary.

Now, he seems to be backing Cruz -- only as long as Cruz seems to be keeping Trump from 1237. If Trump fails to get 1237 and a first ballot nomination, Romney will drop Cruz for the 2nd and succeeding ballots in favor of one of the more establishment wannabes -- Kasich, JBush, Ryan, etc.

Cruz will have LESS support on a 2nd ballot than he does on the 1st.

[Iowa David]

Trump will not get to 1237 delegates. He doesn't get that crazy delegate stuff.

Let's say Trump gets 99% of the votes in WV. At MOST he gets 19 of 22 statewide delegates, and probably less. Why? His campaign sucks.

http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2016/04/16/donald-trump-west-virginia-delegates-ceiling/?utm_content=buffer32f34&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

In CA I think it is VERY doubtful he has a full slate of delegates.

Also if Trump gets to 1237 he wins. Doesn't need an alliance. But if you think an alliance is a good idea, I am sure Cruz would welcome Trumps endorsement.

[Lakeshark]

in 2 weeks Trump will be mathematically eliminated, as well.

I believe that's wishful thinking, kindly link us to the wishful thinking article that shows that to be true.

I know, I know, you can't. Nice try anyway.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I do to just to avoid the whining that the nominations was “stolen” from him.

[RummyChick]

[Helicondelta]

ROFL. Both Cruz and Kasich have been eliminated for some time.

Neither one can reach 1237 delegates. There is no path. Even if they win all the remaining races.

They are in the race just to promote themselves and because they have nothing better to do. And the media loves it because of the ratings from all the drama.

But Trump is not even bothering to waste money competing in some states. The race has been over for some time. Cruzers are wasting their time propping up a zombie candidate. You’ll see.

[lodi90]

Cruz will NOT be mathematically eliminated until Trump gets 1237 delegates

---

How selfish. No other candidate has campaigned past their expiration date in modern GOP history before this year. Kasich and Cruz. Too peas in the GOPe stop Trump pod. How principled. How conservative.

[Helicondelta]

If Cruz dropped out now, the assumption of the anti trump crowd is that most of his supporters would go to Kasich.

And that would obviously make Kasich more competitive and able to deny Trump delegates. Most of the remaining races are winner take all at the district level. So in a three way race Trump can take all the delegates without winning a majority of the votes.