Compromise candidate?

[Progressive]

What do you think?

[C r a b c a k e]

Tony Abbott's schedule is pretty free at the moment.

[tpfkaw]

Almost certainly Cruz, since it would presumably be caused by a 3-way delegate split between Trump, Cruz and Rubio. The first thing the establishment would do is try to get all the superdelegates behind Rubio and use various inducements to try to poach delegates from Trump and Cruz, with the goal of getting Rubio to a majority or close enough to a majority that he's the only possible nominee. But failing that, the Trump and Rubio camps aren't going to make a deal with each other, so Cruz would have all the leverage needed to be the nominee; if one side won't back him he can threaten to do a deal with the other.

If for whatever reason Cruz isn't a plausible nominee (for example, that he's a distant third in the popular vote, that he dropped out, that he burned all his bridges with the Rubio camp or that he had a major scandal), then the party establishment would, once again, try to nominate Rubio. Failing that they'd try Paul Ryan, and if they can't get someone who toes the party establishment line on immigration then, at that point, they'd turn to Romney.

Voted "one of the current people running" in the poll.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Almost certainly Cruz, since it would presumably be caused by a 3-way delegate split between Trump, Cruz and Rubio. The first thing the establishment would do is try to get all the superdelegates behind Rubio and use various inducements to try to poach delegates from Trump and Cruz, with the goal of getting Rubio to a majority or close enough to a majority that he's the only possible nominee. But failing that, the Trump and Rubio camps aren't going to make a deal with each other, so Cruz would have all the leverage needed to be the nominee; if one side won't back him he can threaten to do a deal with the other.

If for whatever reason Cruz isn't a plausible nominee (for example, that he's a distant third in the popular vote, that he dropped out, that he burned all his bridges with the Rubio camp or that he had a major scandal), then the party establishment would, once again, try to nominate Rubio. Failing that they'd try Paul Ryan, and if they can't get someone who toes the party establishment line on immigration then, at that point, they'd turn to Romney.

Voted "one of the current people running" in the poll.

Cruz, without question.

If it comes down to a brokered convention, the GOP probably can't win the election if the Trump crowd walks off.  This would negatively impact all sorts of downballot races.  Cruz would have a hard time winning, but in the current political environment, he won't lose in a Goldwater-style landslide.  Cruz will "sell out" to the Establishment, but on his terms.  He's the only candidate that can make that deal.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Pete McCloskey
Paul Laxalt
John Anderson
James Buckley
Steve Forbes
Pete Wilson
Oliver North
Pete Dupont IV

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

a governor such as Martinez or Haslam or Haley or Snyder.  a retread or someone from the beltway is not plausible as a compromise candidate when there is a sense of disconnect and division between the establishment and the base.

[Adam Griffin]

The GOP literally doesn't understand the word "compromise" anymore; presumably and if legally allowed, they'd all just sit on their delegates and refuse to vote for anyone else all the way until Election Day.

[Lexii]

Cruz or Paul are is the only two compromise candidates in the race

[Simfan34]

Can the RNC change the rules as to increase the number of unpledged delegates? Perhaps shift the "bonus" and "party" delegates from pledged to unpledged?

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Probably Ted Cruz. I know he is solidly on the base's side in the ongoing base/establishment battle, but Trump makes him look like a downright elder statesman in comparison. Cruz could represent a compromise between an establishment that doesn't like Trump and wants him out and a base that hates politicians and wants Trump.

[JMT]

Ultimately, I think this race will come down to Cruz, Rubio, and Trump. The GOP establishment would be fine with Rubio if he ends up winning most delegates, and wouldn't do anything to stop it. The establishment would be less comfortable with Cruz, but if he were to win most delegates, I think they would let the nomination process happen without any problem and would accept him as the nominee. The establishment very well might try to stop Trump, though. As much as the GOP would prefer Rubio of the three candidates, they may change delegate rules and allow for Cruz to be the nominee. Cruz would have a good amount of delegates (and states won) in his own right, so they wouldn't be upsetting Cruz voters. Rubio voters would most likely be okay with the idea of Cruz. Trump voters would be angry, but they are more likely to favor Cruz over Rubio. So if I had to guess, if Trump is going into the convention looking like he might win the nomination, the establishment will try to promote Cruz to keep most sectors of the GOP happy.

I think it would be highly unlikely that the GOP turns to a candidate not actually in the race as a compromise candidate. This would anger many people, who are already angry at the establishment as it is. The only candidate I could see the establishment making a case for without too much backlash is Romney. It's possible this could happen, but unlikely.  

[Suburbia]

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam.

That is if Romney, Ryan's a nay.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

Cruz or PaulRubio  are the only two compromise candidates in the race that would have a serious chance at getting the nomination.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Reaganbot 2000.