Dissident RNC delegates lost a key vote in the RNC’s Rules Committee this afternoon, but are hoping they can still force a floor fight over delegate-selection rules.
Last week, the Romney campaign, led by D.C. delegate and GOP attorney Ben Ginsburg, pushed through a rules change giving presidential candidates — as opposed to state parties — the last say on naming delegates to future conventions.
Longtime conservative activist Morton Blackwell led a rebellion. “Ginsburg is not constrained by principle,” Blackwell told me Monday. He and many Rules Committee members saw this as a power grab.
Last night, Rules Committee members got word that a compromise had been reached. A new rule would leave ultimate authority with state parties, but require them to more strictly bind delegates — an attempt to prevent Trojan Horse delegates who affiliate with one candidate, but vote for another at the convention.
Jim Bopp, a national committeeman, had brokered the compromise with Ginburg.
Today, the Rules Committee had its final meeting, to pass the rules that govern the convention and the party. Former NH Gov. John Sununu, chairing the committee allowed brief debate on the proposal, instructing committee members that they had five minutes to make their case and “your eloquence will not make a whit of difference.” The committee finally voted 78-15 to accept the compromise and adopt the rules.
During the meeting, though, delegates circulated a “Minority Report.” If they can get 28 Rules Committee members to sign it by 3:45 or so, they can force a floor vote.
