Weigel

Who’s Ready for a Brokered GOP Nomination?

Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images

The theme of the post-Ames GOP primary is this: A stubborn refusal by Republican voters or elites to accept the candidates that have offered themselves to them. It doesn’t seem like any candidate in the race has the juice to win; it’s unclear if any of the dream candidates, like Paul Ryan, can put a winning campaign together. This sets up a messy, potentially very lengthy, primary campaign, with the specter of no settled-upon nominee by the end of the elections in June. I explain.