There is not going to be a repeat of last time.
In 2016, a group of delegates made a last-minute attempt to prevent Donald Trump from clinching the Republican Party’s presidential nomination during a tumultuous scene on the convention floor. However, party leaders are assuring that no such spectacle is anticipated at the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
David Bossie, a Republican National Committee member from Maryland and a staunch ally of Trump, asserts that the scenario is unlikely to repeat itself. He affirms that there is no ongoing conversation or intention among party members to challenge Trump’s nomination.
Republican officials, including some critical of Trump, express minimal concern about the possibility of convention upheaval, especially after Trump’s victories in Iowa and New Hampshire. They attribute this confidence to the years of effort Trump’s allies have invested in solidifying RNC rules and processes.
Even potential challengers like former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are deemed unlikely to find success in sparking a convention floor fight. Morton Blackwell, a member of the RNC’s convention rules committee, suggests that while rules could be changed, it wouldn’t be fair or likely to pass unless facing extreme circumstances.
Despite the lingering possibility of Trump being on trial during the convention, party members like Ken Cuccinelli find it virtually impossible to unseat him as the nominee. The Trump campaign has strategically focused on ensuring that the delegates sent to Milwaukee are loyal to Trump, reducing concerns about rogue delegates.
While some acknowledge the trials awaiting Trump as a potential concern, others dismiss them as a political witch hunt. The overall sentiment within the party is that the presumptive nominee, whether Trump or another candidate like Haley, will not face serious opposition from delegates.
RNC rules currently bind over 94% of convention delegations to vote for the person they were sent to support, at least for the first round of balloting. Despite a small opening in Rule 16(f)(4) that allows for waivers, the likelihood of delegates formally picking someone other than the presumptive nominee is deemed extremely low.
In conclusion, party members and officials express confidence that Trump’s nomination is secure, with minimal chances of convention delegates challenging or changing the outcome in Milwaukee. The prevailing sentiment is that any hypothetical scenarios involving alternative candidates are highly unlikely to materialize.
