What is the RNC's doomsday plan?

[SteveRogers]

Let's say it's June 2016 and after a long primary battle it looks like Donald Trump will in fact win either a majority or a strong plurality of delegates. Does the RNC have a plan in place to either try to deny Trump the nomination outright or minimize the damage to the party in this scenario? Does Reince Priebus have people working up a "doomsday plan" right now to respond to a Trump win?

Is there any way the RNC could wrestle the nomination away from Trump at the convention?
Would they try to force an unwanted running mate onto Trump's ticket?
Do any major establishment players back some kind of mainstream conservative third party ticket (knowing this will lose Republicans the election but possibly minimalize down-ballot damage)?
Would most sitting Senators and Governors bite their tongues and endorse Trump, or would many refuse to do so?
Could any state parties refuse to give Trump their ballot line? 

[Crumpets]

I believe there's footage of Reince Priebus discussing just such an eventuality with Republican donors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf9iTZ433zs

[Statilius the Epicurean]

It's not even September. Why would they? They have no idea who the players would even be in such a scenario.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

A hit job?

[ElectionsGuy]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

"Worse".

[ElectionsGuy]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

"Worse".

That's my opinion, but yes its the worst possible direction to take electorally. The young, urban, black, Hispanic, Asian, non-religious, etc. All groups that are growing in the electorate and/or in population, are going to overwhelmingly reject the Republican Party (even more than before) and its going to keep losing.

[mvd10]

Perhaps they will (secretly?) urge everyone who has a decent chance at winning delegates but no chance at winning the nomination to stay in and hope for a brokered convention. And then Mittens 2016 becomes a fact.

[Mehmentum]

Perhaps they will (secretly?) urge everyone who has a decent chance at winning delegates but no chance at winning the nomination to stay in and hope for a brokered convention. And then Mittens 2016 becomes a fact.

Which makes for an awful/awesome feedback loop.  If the candidates think a brokered convention is likely, they'll be more likely to stay in, which increases the odds of a brokered convention.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

"Worse".

That's my opinion, but yes its the worst possible direction to take electorally. The young, urban, black, Hispanic, Asian, non-religious, etc. All groups that are growing in the electorate and/or in population, are going to overwhelmingly reject the Republican Party (even more than before) and its going to keep losing.

The fact is that Mitt Romney would have had to do 45 points better with Hispanics to win in 2012 as opposed to just 4 points better with whites. So what's the strategy to entice asians, blacks, hispanics, and atheists into a political party that the overwhelming majority of them instinctually fear and loathe?

[ElectionsGuy]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

"Worse".

That's my opinion, but yes its the worst possible direction to take electorally. The young, urban, black, Hispanic, Asian, non-religious, etc. All groups that are growing in the electorate and/or in population, are going to overwhelmingly reject the Republican Party (even more than before) and its going to keep losing.

The fact is that Mitt Romney would have had to do 45 points better with Hispanics to win in 2012 as opposed to just 4 points better with whites. So what's the strategy to entice asians, blacks, hispanics, and atheists into a political party that the overwhelming majority of them instinctually fear and loathe?

Mitt Romney could've won 45% of the Hispanic vote and won with 49% of the vote (with everything else staying the same). And Mitt Romney could've also won with 49% if he got 40% out of both Hispanic and Asians. But anyway, the party can stop instinctively fearing and loathing them. That would be a great start! And forget atheists, the broader non-religious group is what the right ought to be worried about, atheists are overwhelmingly left wing as a group.

[dudeabides]

[KingSweden]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

"Worse".

That's my opinion, but yes its the worst possible direction to take electorally. The young, urban, black, Hispanic, Asian, non-religious, etc. All groups that are growing in the electorate and/or in population, are going to overwhelmingly reject the Republican Party (even more than before) and its going to keep losing.

The fact is that Mitt Romney would have had to do 45 points better with Hispanics to win in 2012 as opposed to just 4 points better with whites. So what's the strategy to entice asians, blacks, hispanics, and atheists into a political party that the overwhelming majority of them instinctually fear and loathe?

Mitt Romney could've won 45% of the Hispanic vote and won with 49% of the vote (with everything else staying the same). And Mitt Romney could've also won with 49% if he got 40% out of both Hispanic and Asians. But anyway, the party can stop instinctively fearing and loathing them. That would be a great start! And forget atheists, the broader non-religious group is what the right ought to be worried about, atheists are overwhelmingly left wing as a group.

A point oft-forgotten, I think. A lot of people are apathetic about religion or just non-believers, period, but not as militant (or annoying) as atheists. The political evangelicalism of many (particularly Southern) Republicans is exactly why these people don't vote GOP, even though a lot of them could probably be corralled into the center-right tent on economic issues.

[Slander and/or Libel]

Let's say it's June 2016 and after a long primary battle it looks like Donald Trump will in fact win either a majority or a strong plurality of delegates. Does the RNC have a plan in place to either try to deny Trump the nomination outright or minimize the damage to the party in this scenario? Does Reince Priebus have people working up a "doomsday plan" right now to respond to a Trump win?

Is there any way the RNC could wrestle the nomination away from Trump at the convention?
Would they try to force an unwanted running mate onto Trump's ticket?
Do any major establishment players back some kind of mainstream conservative third party ticket (knowing this will lose Republicans the election but possibly minimalize down-ballot damage)?
Would most sitting Senators and Governors bite their tongues and endorse Trump, or would many refuse to do so?
Could any state parties refuse to give Trump their ballot line? 

My wife and I were talking about this very thing yesterday afternoon. I suggested that maybe the RNC could offer the carrot of full-throated support to Trump if he went with an establishment running mate, but my wife asked why in the world he would take that offer. If he wins the nomination, he has all of the power. The GOP establishment still wants a Democrat not to win, right? Trump would be in the driver's seat, and I don't imagine he'd be likely to accept any attempts to rein him in. And why would he? If he wins the nomination, that'll mean he basically waltzed into the GOP and conquered it on his own.

[Torie]

Just accept that Hillary or Biden will be POTUS, and hope that Trump does not take down two many Pubs in Congress with him.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Priebus appoints a whole new slew of super delegates the day before the convention that all vote against Trump at the convention. It will be too late to get on many state ballots as an independent, and the Libertarian/Green/Constitution/Justice nominees will likely be already selected, so Trump will be out of luck.

[mvd10]

Just accept that Hillary or Biden will be POTUS, and hope that Trump does not take down two many Pubs in Congress with him.

You mean that we should accept that Hillary will be POTUS or that the RNC should accept Hillary will win the election if Trump gets nominated? Perhaps that would be the best long term solution, if Trump loses in a landslide people might go for a more electable nominee next cycle and I am sure Hillary will be vulnerable in 2020. 12 years of 1 party rule, very polarizing and rather old incumbent and perhaps even an economic meltdown during her watch. And if the RNC just denies Trump the nomination while he won enough delegates it will make for a lot of bad press. They should just let Trump get the nomination and prepare for 2020 or find a more subtle way to get Trump out. I wonder what Romney is thinking right now, even though he isn't the ideal candidate he probably would be doing better than Jeb.

[SteveRogers]

Just accept that Hillary or Biden will be POTUS, and hope that Trump does not take down two many Pubs in Congress with him.

If that's the case, then is there a way for Republicans to minimize the down-ballot damage?

[Torie]

Just accept that Hillary or Biden will be POTUS, and hope that Trump does not take down two many Pubs in Congress with him.

If that's the case, then is there a way for Republicans to minimize the down-ballot damage?

I have no idea. It depends whether Trump fans refuse to vote for a Pub Congressperson, who distances himself from the views of the guy, where that is necessary for the candidate to survive politically. You might ask Muon2. He represents a district in the state assembly that has a considerable number of Hispanics. Indeed, coincidentally, I was told at a party last night (a gay pool party, which just goes to show that gays can think about more than just one thing at such venues ), that his town, of which he was mayor, used to be a way station for illegals coming from Mexico (sort of an underground railroad), because it was safer there for them than in Chicago. I am quite confident, although he is too diplomatic to say it, and does not want to be quoted, that he considers Trump quite toxic. Granted he is so well respected, that he has nothing to worry about, but someone in office of more prosaic talents with a district like his, might well have something to worry about.

[Lincoln Republican]

Quite simple.

If Trump has won the nomination in the primaries and caucuses, then he receives the nomination at the RNC.

He cannot be denied the nomination in that case.

As for the VP candidate, Trump's pick would still have to be voted on by the convention, so there is a possibility that the convention will pick someone other than who Trump wants.

If Trump arrives at the convention with a plurality, but not a majority of support, it's a whole other story.  

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Why are people assuming that Romney would be the fallback guy at the convention? I don't think it works like that. most likely the one who has the 2nd most delegates (assuming Trump doesn't have a majority) and is compatible with the establishment and conservative/libertarian/tea party wings will be rallied behind and get the nomination.

[Rockefeller GOP]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

"Worse".

Yes, much worse.

[OSR stands with Israel]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

"Worse".

Yes, much worse.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

"Worse".

Yes, much worse.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

They don't have one, and they can't stop Trump. They just have to hope that he implodes. If Trump actually wins the nomination, the Republican Party will actually just get worse (just like Goldwater pushed the party to the right, Trump will push it in a different direction). They will become a protectionist party, centered around nationalism and nativism. No longer a party of big business, but a party that serves the interest of the native population and its 'national interest' abroad.

"Worse".

Yes, much worse.

Interesting to see so many on a supposedly centre-left forum standing up for corporatism over representative democracy.