Editor’s note: This post has been updated. See below.
Politico is reporting that former Speaker of the House John Boehner has endorsed Paul Ryan for president if none of the current GOP candidates get a majority of the delegates:
“If we don’t have a nominee who can win on the first ballot, I’m for none of the above,” Boehner said. “They all had a chance to win. None of them won. So I’m for none of the above. I’m for Paul Ryan to be our nominee.”
The reaction:
This should go over well with the GOP base. https://t.co/HXIKzttIT2
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 16, 2016
Boehner endorses Paul Ryan for president. https://t.co/YBQE0eZla8 #lolnothingmatters
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) March 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/NoahCRothman/status/710096282648485890
https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/710097778786099200
John Boehner endorses Paul Ryan for floor nomination at the RNC in #Cleveland. Now its getting interesting, folks! https://t.co/fKNtfNWRLR
— David Robinson Jr (@daviedaily) March 16, 2016
But would Ryan even consider it?
John Boehner says a lot of things. Paul Ryan is not walking through that door folks. He will not incur the wrath of the Trumpians.
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) March 16, 2016
And we know how Donald Trump feels about losing the nomination at the convention:
Trump Warns of Riots If He Loses Nomination With Most Delegates https://t.co/tyvB3Hj286
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) March 16, 2016
He wouldn’t “lead” the riots, but they’d happen. From Bloomberg:
“I think we’ll win before getting to the convention, but I can tell you, if we didn’t and if we’re 20 votes short or if we’re 100 short and we’re at 1,100 and somebody else is at 500 or 400 cause we’re way ahead of everybody, I don’t think you can say that we don’t get it automatically,” Trump said on CNN on Wednesday. “I think you’d have riots.”
“I wouldn’t lead it, but I think bad things would happen,” Trump said, adding the outcome would “disenfranchise” his supporters.
And unless Ted Cruz drops out early, we’ll be having this discussion for some time. The latest projections have this going through at least May and Trump having to win approximately 59% of the remaining delegates:
Trump can't win the nomination until May: The math behind it https://t.co/loz5RFC57Q
— Rssmani (@rssmanii) March 16, 2016
The cheat sheet you must have today: @NBCPolitics unit breaks down delegate math scenarios. LOOK –> pic.twitter.com/arKAYBx3P5
— Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) March 15, 2016
The GOP convention starts July 18 in Cleveland.
Update. Paul Ryan isn’t too high on the Boehner plan:
Post Boehner news, Paul Ryan spox: "He will not accept a nomination and believes our nominee should be someone who ran this year." #2016
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) March 16, 2016
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