I very much doubt this. The two parties are not branches of government and the nominations are not elections to government positions. Federal and state governments have very little say in how the parties nominate their candidates. That’s why the the national committee can throw out the results of states votes, refuse to seat state delegations, and all kinds of other things. There is no way that state law would allow that Democratic delegates will be ordered to vote proportionally to the number of votes in the primary, and with Repulicans it will be winner take all.
The parties can do pretty much whatever they please with their primaries and delegates. Hence the huge messes with Florida and Michigan.
So its true in some cases, but not “most” like I was thinking (in retrospect, I think I was getting confused with delegates sent to the electoral college, who are usually bound by law).
It’s apparently pretty complicated, here’s an article in which a Dem delegate from Pennsylvania tries to find out if he can legally change his vote. He gets differing answers depending on which lawyers he asks.
I’ve read that at least a few of Mitt Romney’s delegates have said that they are pledged to vote for him and are going to do so even though Romney himself has withdrawn his candidacy and endorsed McCain.
Yes, and often the State Parties have rules that require national delegates to support their pledged candidate for the first ballot. Not a state law, but a party rule.
There is also the effect of peer pressure. It’s fellow party members who elected you to be a national delegate for their candidate. If you double-cross them on this when you get to the national convention, they will never elect you to anything again.
If it was apparent that there was no way that McCain would be able to campaign in the fall, they’d vote to change the rules to free all the delegates. Then they’d vote among whoever gets their name placed in nomination. I’d bet on Romney. Whoever got it would say in his acceptance speech that if McCain recovered, he’d step down and let McCain reclaim the nomination.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Giuliani. In an open convention, I think he would be in play. Especially since most of the delegates will be moderates.
I think Giuliani’s facing the same problem as Fred Thompson. As theoretical candidates they looked strong but when they actually ran they didn’t attract votes.
No, most of them are McCain supporters. Republicans, obviously, but not a random sample. I’m not saying it’s obvious they would plunk for Giuliani, but I think he would be considered. Little Nemo’s point is valid, but Rudy lost to McCain. For most McCain supporters, I thnk, Rudy would be preferable to Romney or Huckabee, both on the issues and because he would have a better chance of winning in November.