7 thoughts on “A Path To A Brokered Convention”

  1. A brokered convention which leads to a GOP candidate other than one of those remaining in the race now is a sure way to insure that huge numbers of Romney, Gingrich, Santorum and Paul supporters stay home in November.

    1. A lot of Paul supporters are Democrats, but I think that depends on who the eventual nominee ends up being. I think you overestimate the enthusiasm that exists for any of the existing candidates. Many people voting for the anti-Romney aren’t voting for Newt or Rick, they’re voting for a brokered convention.

      1. Paul supporters are the smallest subset of the 4 remaining in the GOP field. If only 5% of Romney, Gingrich and Santorum supporters decided to stay at home rather than vote for a brokered convention candidate in November that would probably guarantee a second term for Obama.

  2. I want a candidate with:

    Newt’s fearless passion

    Ron Paul’s fiscal sense

    a recognition that we are hated in much of the world because of our freedom, not our military. That more important than being liked is being respected, which depends on standing on principle rather than letting ourselves be pushed around.

  3. Unfortunately a brokered convention doesn’t really solve the fundamental problem of finding Republicans who actually want to run this election cycle. The four mentioned there are all unlikely outcomes.

    Sen. Rand Paul is going to push for his father to be selected and likely as a matter of honor not run if he isn’t. He young and able to wait to the next several cycles.

    Gov. Chris Christi is not going to hurt his future plans by running prematurely

    Gov. Mitch Daniels has too much baggage to run and he knows it.

    Gov. Jeb Bush is a Bush and that will make it seem like backroom maneuvering if he’s selected.

    So who’s left?

    My guess is that in a brokered convention they will probably go to Gov. Romeny so they are able to clear him and his supporters out of the way for 2016. And Ron Paul would be a good running mate who will keep the budget issues out front, and to clear the path for Sen. Rand Paul in 2016. This is also likely the best combination to minimize the Republican losses likely to occur in Congress so they are able to keep control of the House and keep President Obama blocked when he’s re-elected.

  4. I’m old enough to remember the moaning prior to the election of 1980 about the inadequacy of all the candidates, the likelihood of a brokered convention, and how people flocked to the independent campaign of Republican John Anderson as an alternative, before deciding he looked too much like Phil Donahue to win.

    As it was, so it will always be.

  5. Rand, seems that Jonah Goldberg is beginning to see it your way.

    On the other hand, a “veteran former GOP governor” was talking with Peggy Noonan 2 weeks ago…

    “He turned to me in conversation and said, “By the way, don’t call it a brokered convention. That’s what the media and the Democrats will call it because it implies there are brokers. Call it a contested convention because that’s what it will be, contested.” Could it really come to that? The odds, he said, are still way against it. “But they’re probably the best in my lifetime.” “

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