Four members of the Rules Committee at the Republican National Convention are discussing what to do with a delegate rule that could limit opposition to Donald Trump.
The rule requires candidates to win a majority of delegates in eight states to be considered for the GOP presidential nomination. Trump has already reached that threshold.
The rule could put Texas Sen. Ted Cruz or Ohio Gov. John Kasich out of the running from the start in a brokered convention. On the other hand, dropping the rule could allow another candidate to join the fray, even one who hasn't competed in the primaries.
"I'm not a big fan of that rule," Rules Committee member David Wheeler told
Politico. "The rule was designed to prevent Ron Paul delegates — their votes from being counted. I don't think it's necessary to do that this year."
"We don't want to give the impression that we are leaning one way or another in support," said Rules committee member Sandye Kading. "Or trying to hold someone back."
No rules yet exist for the convention at all, reports
U.S. News & World Report. The convention spokesman Sean Spicer said the actual responsibility of the committee is to set up rules for the party for the next four years.
"It's like going to a PTA meeting and thinking the primary goal of a PTA meeting is to elect the PTA president," said Spicer.
If Trump has not won the nomination outright by June 7, the Rules Committee will be at the center of the first contested convention since 1976. The committee is still adding members, and must include one man and one woman from every state and U.S. territory, 112 total.
"They ambushed us," said Gwen Bowen, when discussing the implementation of the rule in 2012 by Mitt Romney supporters. She was on the committee in 2012 and now supports Ted Cruz.
All the Rules Committees members interviewed said they would be open to changing or eliminating the rule.
"Any proposed change will be viewed as to which candidates would be helped and which candidates would be hurt," said Morton Blackwell, who has attended every Republican national committee since 1964. "It would be widely and correctly viewed as that outrageous power grab."
"Right now, I don't want the scandal," said Blackwell.
"I'm sure that Mr. Trump would rail against it," added Wheeler.
Arizona businessman Bill Ash, leader of the RNC's Standing Rules Committee, told
The Arizona Republic he hasn't heard talk about changing the eight-state rule.
"Nobody has a way to parachute in," he said.