Donald Trump Vs. Ted Cruz: Brokered Convention Possibilities and Delegate Numbers
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz both have enough delegates so far to be viable contenders for the Republican nomination at this point. However if the race is close and two other candidates keep taking up small numbers of delegates, it is possible that neither candidate will get enough to have a clear win going into the convention.
Donald Trump or Ted Cruz would need 1,237 delegates total to be the Nominee. At last count, with Virgin Islands still out, Trump has 458 delegates and Cruz has 359. Trump needs 779 more while Cruz would need 878 more. The other three candidates have 213 between them. Those numbers come from Real Clear Politics. See the video for information on the situations that could occur in a brokered convention. The odds of that go up if there is no clear winner with over 1,237 votes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTu6EC8HrBc
Those numbers are 151, for Rubio, 54 for Kasich, and eight for Carson, who has just withdrawn from the race to support Donald Trump. What happens to Ben Carson’s delegates is yet to be determined according to Bustle. It seems Republicans are still writing the rules for their 2016 convention.
Donald Trump vs. Ted Cruz is a relatively close race now, since Rubio suddenly lost steam a few weeks ago. The feuding pair, were neck and neck until suddenly, Cruz pulled ahead decisively. Could all this spell brokered convention? While Carson’s eight delegates may not be significant, Rubio and Kasich are still in the race and racking up at least some delegates. We know if they stay in till the convention, those delegates are committed, even if they don’t have enough for a win, neither will anyone else. That gives opportunity for a brokered convention.
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are both scrambling to assemble enough delegates to win, while Rubio and Kashich are trying to get enough to at least justify staying in the race. Already 1.030 of the 2,472 available delegates are committed. That leaves just 1442 to divide between four candidates, opening the door for a brokered convention.
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz will know a lot more after March 15 when 404 more delegates will be assigned in primaries and Caucuses throughout the country, but most notably Florida with its 99 delegates, also North Carolina having 72. After March 15, when Rubio will decide to go or stay, based on Florida results, 404 more will be assigned, some to each of the remaining four candidates. That leaves only 1,038 delegates to divide between the candidates after March 15.
Donald Trump has a strong lead, but not as strong since Ted Cruz has pulled ahead of Rubio significantly. Still anything could happen in this race, including a dark horse win. It is still too early to be calling anyone a winner. Voters must get out and make their choices known. If one group feels too confident, and fails to show up at the polls, it could spell disaster for their candidate. Voters cannot assume the outcome at this point.
Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and the rest all have a chance to win the nomination at this point. It also gives party leaders more voice in the outcome if no one gets the numbers. It could lead to a brokered convention. While some feel that Rubio and Kashich should pull out of the race, others acknowledge their chances for a win as still viable. However this voting turns out, Republicans will find a way to select a candidate this year. It just might not be easy if all four candidates stay in the race, and it could cost Trump especially, since he is the party outsider, if he doesn’t get enough delegates, but Republicans will have a more exciting convention, but perhaps a brokered convention, if no one gets the numbers.
Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and any other candidates still around for the convention, could be battling it out at the convention, which could become a brokered convention easily, if no one gets enough delegates for a clear win.
