Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus admitted Friday the variety of possibilities the party faces three months out from the Cleveland convention was “disconcerting.”
“No one’s been through this before. There are no experts at this process,” Priebus told Fox News host Megyn Kelly late Friday. Priebus also called the possibility of a long floor fight “highly unlikely.”
The last multi-ballot convention took place in 1940. The chances of the same thing happening to the GOP this year have recently increased as Sen. Ted Cruz won a handful of primaries over the past few weeks, stealing away delegates front-runner Donald Trump needs to hit the 1,237 delegate minimum first and secure the nomination.
Following the conclusion of most primaries, from June 7 through the Republican Party’s convention in late July, candidates could make big moves to sway delegates into their court, in the case they are allowed to realign in a brokered convention.
Candidates are allowed to sway delegates, whether that be over a fine dinner or other wining and dining initiative, despite their having been previously pledged to another person. But they are not allowed to offer cash bribes to a delegate.
“I think we spend a lot of time on hypotheticals that are not gonna be a reality,” Priebus said. “This is something that’s new for our party, but we will be prepared as a party.”
