Republican leader says contested convention a likely

A faceoff at the Republican Party's nominating convention between camps for and against Donald Trump appears to be a real possibility, the speaker of the House of Representatives has suggested.
"Nothing has changed other than the perception that this is more likely to become an open convention than we thought before," said Paul Ryan yesterday, who as chairman of the convention is tasked with maintaining order during the July gathering.
"We're getting our minds around the idea that this could very well become a reality, and therefore those of us who are involved in the convention need to respect that," he said at his weekly press briefing in Washington.

A contested or brokered convention means none of the Republican presidential hopefuls has the 1,237 delegates required to win the nomination outright, and the party's nominee will have to be chosen through voting at the July 18 to 21 convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
Trump is leading the race for delegates, but challengers Ted Cruz and John Kasich are hoping to secure enough delegates in the state nominating contests still remaining to prevent him from winning the nomination outright.
The last contested convention was in 1976.

The lack of a clear nominee going into the convention this summer will put Ryan in the middle of what will likely be heated battles.

"My goal is to be dispassionate and to be Switzerland -- to be neutral and dispassionate, and to make sure that the rule of law prevails," he said, admitting he needs to study up on the convention rules.
The position of chairman of the Republican National Convention is typically a ceremonial role but it will be a key position at a contested convention.
Ryan yesterday also dismissed questions on whether he would accept the nomination if there is a deadlock.
"It's not going to be me. It should be somebody running for president," he said.