Much talk has arisen over what will happen in the GOP race for President should none of the candidates running attain the 1,237 delegates needed to win the primary. A new Politico report asserts that Ohio Gov. John Kasich — with one primary win to his name — could win a brokered convention.
The Politico caucus is a panel of political insiders from seven important states. The consensus of the group is that should a brokered convention occur, Kasich is the most likely candidate the GOP delegates would accept.
Kasich is currently last in the delegate race and statistically eliminated from attaining a majority before the convention.
The caucus participants were divided as to who they felt could win the brokered convention. Only 45 percent said Kasich was most acceptable, while 33 percent backed Sen. Ted Cruz and 22 percent backed Donald Trump
The Politico group believe Kasich’s unwillingness to participate in the tit-for-tat antics of the other candidates and his ability to not alienate others make him one of the most viable options.
“The way he has conducted himself in this election has offered him the opportunity to be an acceptable choice for the delegates. Everyone else will be carrying deep battle scars into Cleveland. John will be able to bring different factions together where others can’t,” said one New Hampshire Republican.
A Virginia Republican declared, “John Kasich has worked hard not to alienate the other candidates and their supporters by remaining fairly positive during the primary portion of the campaign, I think there is a better chance of the most conservative Republicans accepting Kasich than there is of the more moderate candidates accepting either Trump or Cruz.”
One Florida Republican added, “Kasich appeals to a larger cross-section of Americans, making him the better general election candidate, obviously, his high positives in Ohio also play a part of his political acceptability for Republicans, many of whom want a presidential win at almost any cost.”
Some GOP insiders have pointed out the negative consequences of not nominating Trump, who thus far has the majority of primary wins and delegates. “If Trump has more delegates than anyone else and has won the most states, the GOP would be incite a grassroots revolt if somebody else was nominated, and I’m not a Trump lover,” said another New Hampshire Republican.