Erc, is there any reason that Cruz supporters elected as Trump delegates, like in Louisiana, while still bound on the first ballot, might run into all sorts of "unforeseeable problems" ahead of the convention and just not vote on the first ballot? I know there will be alternates, but if enough of them did it, could it work?
Hmm...I don't think so. The RNC rules say that:
Unless Paul Ryan decides to explicitly break the rules, the binding seems pretty explicit.
If delegates (and alternates) just refuse to show up, as you suggest, their slots can be filled by the remaining delegates who do. I don't know what would happen if the entire delegation refused to show up, but that seems unlikely; this isn't 1860.
The same is not the case for Rule 40 support, as discussed above, though Trump getting a majority in eight states based on loyal delegates seems highly likely.
Don't give them any ideas.
