Good question.  I wouldn't put it past the GOP mucky-mucks to pull someone like Ryan right out of the blue and jettison all the current candidates.  Couldn't get anymore nuts.

I think I saw a statement that said that so far, only 2% of all GOP delegates have been distributed through the three primary/caucuses held thus far. So there's a long way to go.

Now that Jeb has dropped out, most if his support will go to Rubio. Mitt Romney is about to endorse Rubio. So as we move on, we're going to see three lanes of GOP support emerge.

Mainstream conservatives = Rubio
Religious conservatives = Cruz
Insane conservatives = Trump.

I think with the mainstream moving towards Rubio, the number of states Trump wins going forward drops. 

Cruz's only win going forward based on him under-performing in South Carolina and current polling is Texas. Lot of delegates there.

Some are speculating that Kasich is only staying in so that he can win Ohio and keep delegates out of Trump's hands there. He could then redirect those delegates to Rubio (in exchange for a Veep slot, I suppose)

I guess what I am saying is that there is plenty of time for the republican party to turn the tables on Trump from a delegate perspective, and hand the nomination to Rubio, thereby preventing a brokered convention.

Rongone wrote:

Sounds like a bunch of back room, cigar smoking, back slapping, back stabbing, two faced, disingenuous, secretive maneuvering by a bunch of insiders with access to big money (that will be paid back later through favorable legislation) to make sure the 'proper' candidate is put before the general electorate.

Just the way our representative republic election process is supposed to work. Good night and may God bless America!

No better than the "Super Delegate" process the Democrats use to give party insiders twice the power of the delegates chose through direct voting in the primaries.

 

No better.

No worse.

The status quo or revolution.

In the end, we get the government we deserve. I'd rather see elected officials be put into office by the majority vote of the general electorate, with a large percentage of eligible voters participating, than by the political maneuvering of a small group of operatives or 'super' delegates. I'd rather the decision be made by a transparent public election. I think that's the way our system was originally intended to work . . . Before politics and big money began its incestuous relationship that has prostituted the entire process.