Mitt Romney blasted Donald Trump this week in a speech at the University of Utah. CNN and Bloomberg News are reporting that Mitt is exploring the option to block Trump at Republican National Convention. This could result in either a “contested” convention, or a “brokered” convention.
The last “contested” convention was 1976 (Reagan-Ford, but Ford still won.) If you’re interested in the math behind a contested convention, click here. Thomas Dewey won the last “brokered Republican convention in 1948, then lost in an upset to Harry Truman. (You’ve probably seen Truman hold up the newspaper “Dewey Wins” because the newspaper got it wrong.)
At the 1924 Democratic National Convention led to 102 ballots of deadlock between frontrunners Alfred E. Smith and William G. McAdoo before dark horse John W. Davis was chosen as a compromise candidate on the 103rd ballot. Davis lost to Calvin Coolidge (R) in the general election.
So, a contested or brokered convention isn’t a sign of strength for Republicans, and probably amounts to a loss for Republicans no matter what. It’s not a death sentence however; everyone expected Dewey, the brokered winner of the Republican Convention, to beat Truman because Truman so unpopular. Even still, Truman won.
If Trump felt he was screwed out of the nomination, he could also mount a third party campaign. There are rumors that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is also considering a late bid, especially if Hilary Clinton’s emails cause her problems. Presumably, Bloomberg would take away voters from Hilary Clinton. If he joined the race, there could be a 4-way race: Trump, Romney, Clinton, Bloomberg. Let’s say chaos reigns. Which of the following options do you like best?
[poll id=560]
Mitt Romney on Trump: Then and Now No matter what you think of Trump Bro. Romney appears pretty darn hypocritical here!
Huntsman just supported Trump?!
Etch-A-Sketch:
Trump is a disaster. We must stop him. He will destroy everything we hold sacred. I will vote for him if he is the nominee.
“He will destroy everything we hold sacred. I will vote for him if he is the nominee.”
You will vote for someone who destroys everything you hold sacred? Isn’t that self-contradictory?
MH,
Vara my be referring to Rubio saying he will vote for Trump if Trump becomes the GOP nominee.
Vajra
Do people really want to leave the country over this, or is that just tongue and cheek frustration?
It has been interesting to watch this election develop. I didn’t take trump serious for so long until suddenly I realized I have to.
Too bad Mitt chose the wrong year to run.
Entirely coincidentally I am living in Canada at the moment. My husband and I have over the years from time to time. I would completely prefer to live here if our life and our extended family weren’t all in the US.
Since the stirrings of Tea Party politics and since GOP austerity abandoned actual citizens of the US (as opposed to corporations and the financial elite) I have thought it a far more hospitable and civilized climate. Most recently given the push toward fascism that Trump represents so disgustingly, I can understand if some Americans are seriously considering a move North.
Michael Bloomberg announced today he is not running for Pres “for fear his candidacy could tilt the election to Republican Donald Trump or Ted Cruz.”
“When I look at the data, it’s clear to me that if I entered the race, I could not win. I believe I could win a number of diverse states — but not enough to win the 270 Electoral College votes necessary to win the presidency,” Bloomberg wrote in a column in Bloomberg View, his opinion site.
See http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/bloomberg-announces-he-won-t-run-president-2016-n533546
And Mitt has filed paperwork for an election! See http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/03/07/mitt-romney-files-fec-paperwork-to-run-in-2016-election/
#11 You had to know that was coming when <i?DN has had an article casually mentioning that Mitt is still available about every month.
Trump. I think he’s gonna win too. I don’t think he’s a fascist at all. Hell get the job done. None of the other candidates stand a chance if winning against Hilary or Bernie.
Very sad, and disturbing that LDS members will vote for a communist. If anyone will finish destroying the country it is Sanders.
The church has spoken out, many times, against socialism and communism. Communism is very dangerous, and it just does not work.
Shows who the low information voters really are.
Canada just elected a fascist Prime Minister. Trump can not be worse than Trudeau.
Now who’s going to win? Trump or Hillary? I wonder which one Romney will vote for.