I am confused why Cruz supporters keep bringing up the 1860 election of Lincoln and claiming that process hasn’t changed since then. Don’t they realize that anyone who is posting here has either a computer or some other device capable of looking up how elections were conducted during that time period.
Homework assignment for Cruz supporters: How many people voted for Lincoln before the convention? (Warning, its a trick question.)
What hasn’t changed is this: Delegates to the national convention are elected at the state conventions. Those delegates are sent to the national convention to represent the PARTY, not some large group—less than a majority—of “the people” who may not reflect the party ideal.
The mere fact that someone wins a plurality on the first ballot MUST NEVER obligate the Party to make him their nominee. A MAJORITY of the delegates must come together to make the nomination. Otherwise, you’re paving the way for a hostile takeover by outsiders.
Imagine if, in 2012, Bernie Sanders had declared himself a Republican and run for president. With no reason for Democrats to show up for the incumbent Obama, Sanders could have easily won many of the Republican primaries through mass crossover voting. Would you want the party to follow “the will of the people” then?