Could the GOP Really See a Brokered Convention or Compromise Candidate?

[ericpolitico]

The primary is wide open, record-breaking number of candidates (16) which is extremely crowded

There hasn’t been a brokered convention since 1976, but the strength of the GOP field, when coupled with the proliferation of super PACs, increases the chances that several candidates could show up in Cleveland next July with an army of delegates at their backs.

Will there be a brokered convention?
Worse, no candidate has a majority of the delegates' votes and somebody emerge as compromise candidate, maybe Mitt Romney or Ryan or other “favorite son” candidate

I think this scenario is very unlikely but who knows....

[Blair]

Favourite son? This isn't 1924.

It's hype, everyone said that 2012 for the GOP, and 2008 for the Dems would be brokered. They never are.

They only tend to occur when two heavyweights fight (Reagan v Ford, Kennedy v Carter)

It's not going to happen, if anything Super-Pacs reduce it because as seen in Florida 2012 they can destroy a candidate. For example if it was Rand Paul v Jeb Bush, then Paul would get Super-paced to death by March.

Also the changing schedule is likely to stop this-IIRC Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia and Colorado are all wrapped up by March along with many small states. Its designed not to be a brokered convention

[/]

Most of the goobers will drop out before the primaries begin or do very poorly and stay in until the end just for kicks.

By the time the multi-state primaries begin, the only candidates I can see actually winning multiple states (and it will probably only be a few of these) are Jebbers, Rubius, Scottie, Hucks, Teddie, Kass, Kristofer, and Randy.

[dudeabides]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the establishment has only not had it's way twice since 1952.

Therefore, Jeb Bush will be the nominee.

[Horsemask]

I don't think we will ever have a situation again where the convention starts before the nominee is decided upon.

[Lincoln Republican]

No.

The joke candidates and the really not serious candidates will fade.

The front runners will pull ahead leaving the others behind.

One of the candidates, likely Jeb, will go into the convention with a majority of delegate support, and the convention will, as usual, be a foregone conclusion.

[Clark Kent]

Unlikely but possible. I've heard a theory that Romney is hoping for this.

[oeoyeleye]

No

[TomC]

Unlikely but possible. I've heard a theory that Romney is hoping for this.

Mittens doesn't seem like the kind of guy to sit on his hands and merely hope, but otherwise I agree.

[The Mikado]

The only real "brokered convention" scenarios are snoozers in which one candidate has, like, 48% of the delegates but the others are divided by multiple candidates who want to keep their moment in the limelight going a bit longer.