Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Tuesday that a brokered GOP convention was “highly unlikely,” The Washington Post reported.
McConnell’s comments come after the Post’s Robert Costa reported that Republican Party heavyweights met with him and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus last week to discuss what they would do in case of a contested convention.
“It’s an interesting thing to discuss but highly unlikely,” McConnell was quoted as saying at an event hosted by Politico, adding that some states have restrictions on how their delegates vote.
McConnell declined to comment on what was said at the private meeting with GOP officials beyond saying they were “just talking about politics.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) also criticized the reports of a potential brokered convention in an interview Tuesday with Fox News.
Ryan said “all this talk is ridiculous.”
This post has been updated.
When asked about the possibility of seeing the country try to survive 4 years of ‘governing’ by filibuster and protest vote McTurtle replied…
…
I am going to take that to mean they discussed it, they didn’t really like the chances of getting an Establishment candidate rammed through, so its highly unlikely that they will go that route.
But without a doubt, there are plans forming. His specific mention of restrictions on how state delegates votes indicates that there was at least some discussion into the details. Every state, for example, has 3 “at large” delegates that are not bound by the election outcomes. And there are nuances relating to every state’s specific delegation awards.
Its extremely unlikely if one candidate has a clear lead in delegates awarded by elections, but if its a 2 or 3 way race…it becomes extremely likely. So for McConnell to dismiss the possibility out of hand now, before any elections have been held, seems a bit out of step.
Sheesh. I used to BE one and even THEN reporters were practically peeing their pants in excitement at the thought of a brokered convention. Then wanted it SO bad. Here I am going, “What the hell are you so excited about? Don’t you read history?” Check out the brokered Democratic convention of 1923. It took 103 ballots before the Democrats could decide on the sacrificial lamb from West Virginia, John W. Davis. 103 ballots!
Can you imagine any of these Airedales today sticking around for 103 fucking ballots? I sure can’t.
Coolidge kicked poor Davis’ ass so hard he was still limping right up to when they put him in a pine box 10 years later.
Because the GOP could not organize one, even if it tried desperately.
Was that the same fusion restaurant where Mitch planned Obama’s single term?