So......what actually would happen at a brokered convention?

[Seen the light]

Can someone help me out? How exactly would we then go about figuring out who the nominee is?

[MonkeyFunk]

1. Deals are made

horses are traded, cigars are smoked.

When the smoke clears, somebody nobody likes very much is likely the nominee.

President Bayh?

[Seen the light]

3. Deals are made by......?

I'm not well versed on the process that would happen, forgive me.

[bunnies]

13. lmao.

perfect.

[featherman]

2. Actually they just keep voting... but in between arms are

twisted, favors called in, deals are struck... it's all pretty fascinating and exciting. I remember it from my childhood... maybe Stevenson v. Kefauver... and it got me hooked.

[BuyingThyme]

4. There'd be three times as many prostitutes needed.

[rateyes]

15. Maybe David Vitter would be kind enough to help us find some more.

:evilgrin:

[joshcryer]

5. Basically lots of conversating will go on.

And everyone will decide, unanimiously, who to vote for. There would have to be a "uniting voice" in the matter, meaning that the convention contestants would probably be done for (as I said before, if MI and FL actually come into play, we're looking at a brokered convention because neither candidate has a real mandate).

Who the real uniting voice will be is anyones guess. But I'm thinking that's what Edwards is looking for.

Me personally? If we're going to have a messy brokered convention? Gore/Edwards ftw? :P

[swoop]

16. You really think...

...Hillary would EVER allow anyone but herself to be chosen?

[MonkeyFunk]

18. What will she do?

Shoot delegates who don't vote for her?

[swoop]

20. I don't know...

...but I think she's got a plan. Surely she either has folks paid off, promises made--or dirt on someone.

[no name no slogan]

6. Cage match battle royal

A lot of bargaining and horse-trading will go on.

After the first ballot, delegates are no longer committed and may back other candidates that have been nominated by the convention. That could include any already in the race, or others put forth by delegates (like Al Gore, or somebody else not in the primaries).

The chances of a brokered convention are remotely slim. The party has taken great pains over the past several decades to take the drama out of the conventions, and this year will be no different.

Chances are, if we don't have a someone with a clear majority of the delegates needed for first-ballot victory, some deal-making behind the scenes will go down, and the convention will look "unified".

[Labors of Hercules]

7. I'd like to know how likely it is we will have a "dark horse" candidate... nt.

[featherman]

10. That would certainly be Edwards or (unlikely) Gore

If the two leaders in the first few go arounds can't make any headway against each other, the dark horse starts getting some momentum

[joshcryer]

11. Gore will definitely be there, and I find it unlikely that if nominated in enmasse he would REFUSE.

He NEVER made a Sherman-eqsue statement, "If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve."

And in fact, he has said before that he hasn't made a Sherman-esque statement. :P

But Edwards is probably still more likely to be nominated.

[Redbear]

8. It depends on how close somebody is to having a majority.

I think if its 48% to 35% to 17% then there would be huge pressure to get votes swung to put that 48% over the top on a second ballot.


If its 40% 40% and 20% I think there would be a push for a compromise candidate.

[featherman]

9. Here's a link with some history and specifics

from Real Clear Politics

and yes, it was 1952 that I remembered... I was 8 but we had TV... My parents were from Chicago and rooting hard for Stevenson so we got caught up in it

Exciting stuff

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/politically_uncorrected_conven.html

[chelsea0011]

12. Thunderdome. Three go in. One comes out.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. I'd watch that on pay-per-view

[goodhue]

17. Clinton would win

eom

[Steely_Dan]

19. I Believe That Biden...

will be in the mix.

-P

[OmahaBlueDog]

21. In theory

All the delegates are commited fot the 1st ballot. If no majority is reached, they keep holding ballots until one is reached. The difference is that, after ballot #1, no one is chained to their original candidate. Because of this, generally deals are made (hence the term "brokered" to get a majority. One possibility after the 1st ballot is that additional nominees might come into the picture, like Al Gore.