Posted on 02/29/2016 1:45:25 PM PST by Quicksilver
Memo to Republican leaders: Be careful what you wish for.
Hoping to avoid a repeat of the messy fight for the Republican nomination in 2012, the party drew up a calendar and delegate-selection rules intended to allow a front-runner to wrap things up quickly.
Now, with Republicans voting in 11 states on Tuesday, the worst fears of the party’s establishment are coming true: Donald J. Trump could all but seal his path to the nomination in a case of unintended consequences for the party leadership, which vehemently opposes him.
--snip--
A majority of the 595 delegates at stake that day are awarded by congressional district, with the stinger that, in some circumstances, only the top two finishers receive any at all. The winner of each district gets two delegates, the runner-up gets one and everyone else goes home like Charlie Brown after Lucy has yanked away the football.
This rule was intended by party leaders to turbocharge the campaign of a front-runner. In effect, a candidate who wins a district with a plurality of only about 33 percent, as Mr. Trump has in earlier states’ primaries, ends up with 66 percent of the delegates.
Mr. Rubio could be all but shut out in Texas if he does not finish higher than third in any of its 36 districts, and if he also falls short of 20 percent of the vote statewide, which he needs to qualify for at-large delegates.
The high threshold of 20 percent for at-large delegates also applies in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. If Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz do well in those deeply conservative states, they could deprive Mr. Rubio of much-needed support.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I figured that out 7 months ago, the NYT is just now discovering it.
Ping to thread.
I love it when the machinations of the GOPe blows up in their grubby faces.
This answers my own question exactly. Thanks.
I really hope we can reach a point where it is just Donald and Cruz on a debate stage.
I think that could be the righteous end of Trump.
Folks that complain about Trump abd how he is unworthy, should look what dems have offered with Obama and now Hillary. Both corrupt, craven, contemptable.
Trump is a crude blustery NY tycoon on the outside, but a loyal red whit and blue American on the inside.
The GOPe richly deserve this. I will savor every bit of their agony.
I am a delegate and precinct chair here.
I’m supposed to send in $40.00 to attend the first meeting in April. It’s an all day event with lunch and refreshments.
I think I’ll wait until after Tuesday to send it in, looks like it may not be necessary.
Keep dreaming.
How is Rubio going to ‘’sweep’’ Florida? They hate his guts. There are, especially, Cuban-Americabs there who hate his guts.
The only thing Rubio will win over is his fellow Foam Party members. LOL, members. Yeah, see what I did there?
The rule changes were carefully design to ensure that Jeb! would have smooth sailing through the primaries. Didn't turn out quite the way it was planned, however. Too bad.
The GOP establishment changed the rules to assure the nomination of somebody like Yab (Yet Another Bush). Instead they get stormed by Trump. If they survive, they’ll try super delegates the next time around. That’s working for Hillary.
Yup. The smartest guys in the world were too smart by half. Or perhaps six-and-a-half.
Thanks!
Best laid plans of mice and men. ...
LOL I’m afraid so. You’re most probably right.
I hope not. I can't stand Count Chocula's voice. It's right up there with Sarah Palin on the awful scale.
Another gop-e puke having the vapors. How unusual.
Not.
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