Is There a Realistic Possibility of a Deadlocked GOP Convention?

I was thinking the other day about how the GOP could easily become deadlocked between Rudy, Mitt, and Old Man Fred, who knows how the resurgent Huckabee will play into the mix.

It seems like Rudy has a pretty good lock on northern states, while Freddie has a good lock on many of the deep red states. Mitt seems like he could split the difference and take states away from both of them.

Also IIRC although the big populous states would normally have more weight and more delegates, "red" states that voted for Bush in 2004 get extra delegates as a reward, which may serve to neutralize Rudy's big state advantage.

If this scenario, or a similar one plays out, I could see a very embarrassing situation for the GOP where a candidate fails to win the first ballot and a deal has to be ironed out in smoke filled back rooms.

It would be disastrous for the GOP if we have our candidate in March, and they are still scrambling for one in July.

Is this realistic?

?

"we will have our candidate in March" before I get to cast my vote in May?

Not exactly democratic of you.

I wouldn't mind a deadlock at the Democratic Convention, myself. The action to resolve it might help break the corporate stranglehold on the nomination.

After Super-Duper Tuesday if a candidate sweeps or even just dominates, which doesn't seem all that unlikely.

And that's just the way things are, don't blame me.

I, and my votes, aren't really needed and don't count for anything.

I'm aware of the point you are making, and have been aware of it since the primary scheduling process began.

I will remember that my vote wasn't needed, and didn't count, when Democrats are demanding that I "get in line" behind someone else's choice in '08.

There is a real possibility that Giuliani could lose the first 5 states, yet pull into the top tier in delegates just by winning Florida. So at that point you could have three or four candidates all with a good bunch of delegates going into the really big weeks.

It's not likely, but it could happen.

The evangelicals, the "fiscal conservatives," the racist and sexist wing - all will kneel before Rudy in the end, as the neocons hold ultimate power in the Republican Party. They play hardball, and they get what they want. Looks to me like Rudy gets their nod, and becomes their Zod.