NEW YORK — The volatility of the Republican presidential race threatens to undermine the party’s July convention, putting potential donors on edge, raising security concerns and prompting some GOP politicians, including those in competitive reelection battles, to skip the Cleveland gathering altogether.
A bungled and possibly contested convention could have lasting repercussions not only for the eventual nominee but also for the Republican brand. Party leaders fear that a week of contentious floor fights, inflammatory rhetoric and potentially violent protests could project a negative image to voters nationwide.
Compounding the challenges facing organizers are the expectations of Donald Trump, who asserted in an interview that he should have at least partial control over programming, stagecraft and other issues by virtue of his front-runner status — even if he does not have the delegates to secure the nomination beforehand.
Trump blasted the GOP’s last convention, in Tampa four years ago, as “the single most boring convention I’ve ever seen.”
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Trump’s comments capped a week of feuding between him and the RNC as Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has outmaneuvered him in the chase for the convention delegates who will decide the nomination.
Ted Cruz has "outmaneuvered" Trump? This is untrue. Just like the superdelegates on the Democratic side--at least these were a change put in place years ago, so they surprised no one--last summer's GOP rule changes were specifically meant to block outsiders unapproved by party elites. Cruz did not outmaneuver anyone. He was about the only viable candidate left standing that the GOP could temporarily utilize to block Trump and his threat to their increasingly creaky oligarchy.
Trump argued that the delegate selection process is “rigged,” prompting the RNC to proclaim in a memo that the rules of the system have been clear.
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