The devil, people say, is in the details, and there is no better example of that than a relatively small change in the rules of the Republican Party, which could end up having a big effect on the GOP’s presidential nominating process and even on the general election.
Unlike Democrats, Republicans don’t make rule changes between national conventions. Rules adopted at one national convention stay in place for four years, until the next national convention.
On Aug. 6, 2010, however, for the first time in history, a rule change passed the Republican National Committee by an unheard-of two-thirds majority and was enacted.
The rule, drawn up by the Temporary Delegate Selection Committee established at the 2008 GOP convention, was subject to an up-or-down vote without amendment at the party’s 2010 summer meeting.
Under the first part of the new Rule 15, which has received plenty of media attention, only Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada are allowed to select delegates to the 2012 convention in February, while other states can begin the process no earlier than the first Tuesday in March.
But the new rule also states that, aside from the four February states, all other states holding contests before April 1 (that is, the often crucial March states) must “provide for the allocation of delegates on a proportional basis.” Proportionality is not defined in the rules.
Can Small RNC Rule Change Affect GOP Race? : Roll Call Opinion
via rollcall.com
