A REAL CONVENTION? – AT 9:55 A.M. ET:  Fascinating piece in the New York Post by ace political reporter Fred Dicker.  Is it possible that the Republican Party is heading for a brokered convention?  Brokered conventions are rare in this age of heavy primaries, but can happen:

With no clear front-runner and Donald Trump and Ben Carson continuing to dominate the crowded presidential field, two top New York Republicans predict a brokered convention in Cleveland next summer — with the possibility of a surprise GOP ticket emerging.

“At this point, I see a brokered convention in Cleveland,’’ former US Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, who backs long-shot Ohio Gov. John Kasich and plans to attend the July convention, told The Post.

“It would be the first time in a long time, but I believe there’s a reasonable chance that there will be no clear winner after the primaries are concluded — provided that neither Trump nor Carson has collapsed,’’ he continued.

State GOP Chairman Ed Cox said he also saw a “real possibility of a contested convention because there are so many good candidates and no clear leader.”

“You could have a lot of maneuvering for support at the convention. It could be very exciting,’’ Cox continued.

New York’s “proportional’’ — as opposed to “winner-take-all’’ — April 19 GOP primary could become all the more important if there’s no front-runner, Cox said.

COMMENT:  Could be, and it could be great for the Republican Party.  A brokered convention would dramatically increase TV viewing.  It would be a real contest, a World Series of politics.

And a surprise ticket could emerge.  I love those smoke-filled rooms.  The people filling them with smoke have often made some good decisions.

October 26, 2015