With the polls all bunched up in Iowa, and frontrunner Howard Dean showing signs of serious slipping. I think there is real, allbeit slim, possibility that the candidate may genuinely not be chosen by the time of the convention.
So, I have a few thoughts and questions:
1.If the candidates think the convention will be brokered, would that not provide an incentive to stay in the race, no matter how little money they have or national polling strength they show?
2.What is the percentage of the vote a candidate needs to win delegates in a state?
3.What is the date of the final primary?
4.Could the Democratic Party really go from the last primary to mid August without having a candidate? Wouldn't they have to move the convention up?
As a Canadian I think the whole brokered convention is silly. This is how it works in Canada:
Convention 1st ballot
Candidate A: 40% of delegates
Candidate B: 30%
Candidate C: 20%
Candidate D: 10%
On the second ballot, candidate D is dropped off, and the remaining 3 candidates compete. The balloting goes on until a winner is produced.