Democratic Primaries

MineralMan

(151,750 posts)

19. The convention rules cover such a situation just fine.

Tue Feb 18, 2020, 12:02 PM

Feb 2020

A "contested" convention just means that nobody has a majority on the first ballot. Nothing wrong with that, and it corrects itself on the second or third ballot. A "brokered" convention cannot take place under the current rules. Simple.

If there are three candidates and none of them can reach a majority on the second ballot, the third-place candidate can and probably would drop out and suggest that his or her pledged delegates vote for one of the two remaining candidates. That would end it.

Remember that the superdelegates vote on the second ballot under the current rules, which could change if a majority of delegates votes for a change.. That would shift things a good deal.

We are the Democratic Party. We use democratic principles in cases like those. A plurality does not win the nomination. A majority is required.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

42 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

If the centrists want to stop Sanders, all but one need to drop out today. [View all] LonePirate Feb 2020 OP

well Amy & Warren should have already dropped out LeftTurn3623 Feb 2020 #1

No. Iliyah Feb 2020 #2

You are right, but it isn't going to happen, and I would argue it isn't a question of "stopping still_one Feb 2020 #3

Bloomberg's got the money, honey. He's not going anywhere. BusyBeingBest Feb 2020 #4

Nearly anything can happen at a brokered convention. Laelth Feb 2020 #5

If the candidate with the most delegates going into the convention is not chosen, we are doomed. LonePirate Feb 2020 #8

I don't know. Laelth Feb 2020 #12

The media attention would be outweighed by angry supporters of the leading candidate. LonePirate Feb 2020 #13

The convention rules cover such a situation just fine. MineralMan Feb 2020 #19

If superdelegates deny the nom to a clear plurality leader, that place will explode and we will lose LonePirate Feb 2020 #23

This is the reality cherryinpa Feb 2020 #33

I disagree completely. MineralMan Feb 2020 #34

You are sorely mistaken if you think someone with a 10-20% lead and being denied is good for us. LonePirate Feb 2020 #35

It is months until the Convention. MineralMan Feb 2020 #36

what if it is 33%, 30%, 24%, 13%? CalFione Feb 2020 #21

That falls into the close race exception I mentioned above. LonePirate Feb 2020 #25

There are no "centrists" in the field. lapucelle Feb 2020 #6

You get that these terms are relative, right? Act_of_Reparation Feb 2020 #17

Relative to what? All our candidates are on the left. lapucelle Feb 2020 #26

Left is relative to right. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2020 #37

None of our candidates is on the right. They are all on the left, lapucelle Feb 2020 #38

No, it really isn't a good time at all. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2020 #39

Idiosyncratic, subjectively determined criteria are just that, lapucelle Feb 2020 #42

"condescending" TwilightZone Feb 2020 #41

That chart is not the final word. In the real world, people know just which candidates you mean, thesquanderer Feb 2020 #18

All our candidates are on the left. lapucelle Feb 2020 #27

Too early for that. We've had two primary events. Two. MineralMan Feb 2020 #7

This is a very bad idea as it leads to a contested convention. See post #8. LonePirate Feb 2020 #9

A contested convention is better than a clear Bernie win CalFione Feb 2020 #15

This message was self-deleted by its author pinkstarburst Feb 2020 #24

Conversely, Warren should drop out to consolidate the progressive vote behind one candidate... brooklynite Feb 2020 #10

Warren's voters would disperse in many directions; but given her lack of viability, she should drop. LonePirate Feb 2020 #11

If she syphons off potential Bernie votes, better to stay in CalFione Feb 2020 #16

They can wait until after SC CalFione Feb 2020 #14

Your scenario suggests that some candidates will go on paying campaign staff, BusyBeingBest Feb 2020 #22

Agreed n/t Prue Feb 2020 #29

Agree on the House and Senate JustAnotherGen Feb 2020 #30

re: "So that leaves Biden." Except more Biden voters have Sanders as their 2nd choice thesquanderer Feb 2020 #20

I'm a moderate JustAnotherGen Feb 2020 #28

My concern is stopping a contested convention where superdelegates could upend the race. LonePirate Feb 2020 #32

One of them needs to take one for the team before dropping out. Zolorp Feb 2020 #31

If anyone but Sanders is your goal MoonlitKnight Feb 2020 #40