That’s all well and fine, but the fact is that the parties have created the perception that the primary votes are the way the candidates are chosen. They cheerfully broadcast the results, state by state, voting numbers included if it’s not a caucus, and do absolutely nothing to dissuade people from thinking they are indeed “electing” a nominee.
If the GOP stabs Trump in the back the perception will be that they are subverting the results of an election and that perception, whatever technicalities you can write, will be wholly justified, because every primary they’ve held for years was presented as if it was en election.
As a complete aside, isn’t this, well, stupid? Why do states have deadlines for getting on the ballot that are before the conventions choose who’s going to be on the ballot?
It’s more getting the Party on the ballot with an open slot to put in the candidate’s name.
If I understand it right, Trump could run under a third party that is already on all the ballots such as the Libertarian or Green(as example) if that party is willing to associate with him.
If he wants to run on his own, he has to qualify the same as the everyone else.
Here in Minnesota (and in some other states), any ‘major’ political party has their endorsed candidate automatically placed on the ballot. (‘Major’ parties are those where a candidate received at least 5% of the vote in the previous state election. ‘Minor’ parties must get 1% of the votes to be eligible for campaign finance subsidies.)
I’m totally amazed that Trump has any support at all given the degree he’s pissed off minorities, LGBT, Muslims and women. You’d think any option would be a better choice for the party, let alone America.
What do you think the normal GOP has been doing for the past couple decades, trying to court those groups?
Trump is loud and obnoxious, but he’s right in line with the normal GOP in terms of which groups he’s pissing off. That’s why he won the GOP’s primary, after all: He’s saying things those voters want to hear.
Yup. Trump has the Angry Old White Guy (and the Angry Young Stupid White Guy) votes down. Who else does he need?
(Actually, I know plenty of Angry Old White Guy Democrats who wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire. But Texas will probably still go Red. This time, at least.)