How bloody will a floor-fight be at the Republican convention?

[Dennis S]

I don't have any facts to back me, but I can't see Mitt getting the votes he needs in the primaries. Assuming that's so, will the other 3 pitch their own little fits in the convention and throw things into chaos? How do you think it will play out?

[hal]

Every day it's looking more and more like the repubs are in for a brutal convention.

Paul is in it for the message - he ain't going anywhere and he'll bleed at least 10% of the conservative wing in every election.

Santorum is on a mission from god - he ain't gonna quit unless the boss tells him to quit.

Newt knows that if the others stumble, he will walk right into the nomination - he's sitting tight. Even a loss is a win for Newt - it's win-win-win-win for Newt...

[Filliam H. Muffman]

I can not see the convention going well. Newt's personal billionaire is giving the Super PAC money to keep him in the race so to siphon off voters, just so that Fro... Santorum has no chance. Mittens is going to get a surprise when the last 100 delegates he needs are going to say they vote for Paul. That is going to force him to: pick Paul as VP, pledge to make massive defense cuts, some extreme libertarian platform plank that will chase off all the independents, or... :dunno:

In any case, I think it will get record ratings just for the spectacle of the party eating itself.

[Grace62]

Dennis S wrote:
I don't have any facts to back me, but I can't see Mitt getting the votes he needs in the primaries. Assuming that's so, will the other 3 pitch their own little fits in the convention and throw things into chaos? How do you think it will play out?

I think it will play out like this:

Only Mitt Romney has enough establishment backing to pull the strings and make deals at the convention in order to secure the nomination.
Once you get to the convention it's not about primary voters any more, it's about party insiders.
If all the states have voted and he still doesn't have a majority, then he begins to work behind the scenes to secure super delegates and the uncommitted. He is the only candidate who can really offer anything in return for support.
A floor fight is a recipe for losing the general, and I think the party will try its best to avoid that spectacle.

[$tevie]

Aw shucks, I'd love to see a dramatic convention instead another of the plastic PR-driven Prime Time Specials that conventions have devolved into. I was actually hoping the same thing about the Democratic Convention in 2008. I want some excitement, dammit.

[cbelt3]

I'm
Thinking they can set up a Rollerball rink. The real one with James Caan.

[hal]

cbelt3 wrote:
I'm
Thinking they can set up a Rollerball rink. The real one with James Caan.

Your attention please... Rule changes for tonight's World Championship Game: No substitutions, no penalties... and no time limit!

[Ca Bob]

Sorry $tevie. I would like to think of the R's as suicidal, but I don't think they are THAT suicidal. Romney picked up the Pacific Islander votes, which tells you a lot (OK, just kidding). Romney is assembling convention votes and at the point that he has the clear plurality, if I guess correctly, Santorum will gracefully withdraw. I don't say this because Santorum has a sane bone in his body, but because he was a Senator, and understands how the game is played. I think Gingrich also knows how the game is played, and might very well concede, however ungracefully, at some point in the process. I imagine that a lot depends on what kind of understanding he has with his billionaire backer.

I'm not saying this because there is any compelling logic to it, but because that is how it has been as long as I can remember, going back to JFK vs LBJ. The pressure on the non-Romneys will come from other Republicans who would like to beat Obama. They see their side losing ground in the general election every week that these guys rip each other to shreds in the purple states.

[mattkime]

>>non-Romneys

thats a great name for a band. hell, that would be a great band line up!

Herman Cain on bass, Ron Paul on drums, Gengrinch on keyboard (or keytar!) and front man - Rick Santorum in the sweatervest!

ARE YOU READY TO ROCKKKK?

[Grace62]

Speaking of Herman Cain, did you guys see this weird-as-sh#t commercial on his website?

Some psychotic-looking child kills fish.

http://cainconnections.com/video/this-is...n-stimulus