WASHINGTON – Today CNN was the first of a number of media outlets to report that Florida Sen. Marco, who suspended his run for the GOP nomination after losing in his home state on March 15th wants to hold on to his delegates. The reason is so they can’t be free to vote anyone else on the first ballot at a possible open convention this summer in Cleveland.
State Republican Party chairmen in places where the Florida senator won delegates — necessary to secure the party’s presidential nomination — say Rubio’s campaign has contacted them saying he wants to hold on to that support for now.
His decision to try to keep his 173 delegates could make Donald Trump’s path to the 1,237 needed to clinch the nomination just a little bit tougher.
“Of course, he’s no longer a candidate and wants to give voters a chance to stop Trump,” said Alex Burgos, a Rubio spokesman.
The goal of this tactic is simple it is to deny Trump from winning the nomination on the convention’s first ballot and assist rival Ted Cruz.
Trump’s opponents — including the many Republican and conservative leaders gathered in different anti-Trump groups — are hoping to deny him a win on the first ballot and block his path to the nomination.
Rubio’s letter is a request and it should be noted that his ability to hold on to his delegates is up to each state Republican chairperson. However, since most of those people are anti Trump chances are good that many of his 173 delegates will be able to remain under his control.
“It is my desire at this time that the delegates allocated to me by your rules remain bound to vote for me on at least the first nominating ballot at the national convention,” said the letter, which was signed in Rubio’s name.
