Can Romney's Rivals Force Him Into a Brokered Convention? >
Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum Pose No Threat to Mitt Romney
Even in states where he might not win, Mitt Romney will take a share of the delegates
March 21, 2012
About Ron Bonjean:
Ron Bonjean is a partner with Singer Bonjean Strategies and the owner of the Bonjean Company, both full service public affairs firms. He was chief of staff for the Senate Republican Conference under Sen. Jon Kyl.
The solid win by former Gov. Mitt Romney in Illinois greatly diminishes the possibility that former Sen, Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich can force Romney to a brokered convention. This is creating a sense of inevitability that he will win the nomination. Romney's campaign says it needs just below 50 percent of the remaining delegates to get there.
[See pictures of Mitt Romney on the campaign trail.]
The loss of Illinois to Romney by 12 percentage points means Santorum will have his work cut out for him to stop the Romney momentum. That means he needs to capture several high profile states like Louisiana on March 24, Wisconsin on April 3, and Pennsylvania on April 24. Even with potential Santorum victories, Romney can still pick up a sizeable amount of delegates from these contests and northeastern states such as New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware moving him closer to the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the nomination.
Gingrich poses much less of a threat to the Romney campaign. His campaign is now in debt and the strategy seems to be to remain in the South and focus on states like Louisiana. With only 135 delegates, Gingrich is on life support with serious doubts that his decision to remain in the race will have any effect on the Romney nomination.
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- Other Arguments
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#16515
No — April primaries offer Mitt Romney a chance to end the talk for good
FORD O'CONNELL, Republican Strategist, Conservative Activist, and Political Analyst
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#22410
No — A brokered convention is unlikely, but Santorum will still have a say
JAMIE CHANDLER, Professor at Hunter College
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#32210
No — A brokered convention just won't happen--unless the GOP decides it wants to give President Obama a second term
LARA BROWN, Author of 'Jockeying for the American Presidency: The Political Opportunism of Aspirants'
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#41813
Yes — Mitt Romney, the human Etch A Sketch, is a liberal who must be stopped
JUDSON PHILLIPS, Founder of Tea Party Nation
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#51110
No — Delegate math and financial advantages should help Romney take the nomination
KRYSTAL BALL, MSNBC Contributor and Former Democratic Nominee for Congress
