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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| RNC bid to avoid convention floor fight over Trump nomination fails | RNC bid to avoid convention floor fight over Trump nomination fails |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Representatives of the Republican National Committee offered a deal to conservative grassroots activists to prevent a “floor fight” over the nomination of Donald Trump on Thursday, the Guardian has learned, but the deal fell through. | Representatives of the Republican National Committee offered a deal to conservative grassroots activists to prevent a “floor fight” over the nomination of Donald Trump on Thursday, the Guardian has learned, but the deal fell through. |
| The RNC offered to ban independents and Democrats from participating in the first four Republican primaries in the future and to allocate delegate bonuses to states that hold “closed primaries” with only registered Republicans participating. | The RNC offered to ban independents and Democrats from participating in the first four Republican primaries in the future and to allocate delegate bonuses to states that hold “closed primaries” with only registered Republicans participating. |
| In return, conservative activists would avoid disrupting the Republican rules committee’s proceedings and not participate in any attempt to deny the nomination to Trump. | In return, conservative activists would avoid disrupting the Republican rules committee’s proceedings and not participate in any attempt to deny the nomination to Trump. |
| A source familiar with negotiations made clear to the Guardian that the proposal was not made by RNC chair Reince Priebus, who eventually opposed it. | A source familiar with negotiations made clear to the Guardian that the proposal was not made by RNC chair Reince Priebus, who eventually opposed it. |
| Trump’s opponents had hoped to “unbind” delegates so that they would not be obligated to cast their votes in accordance with their states’ primary election results. Instead, they would be able to vote their conscience and theoretically vote against Trump. | Trump’s opponents had hoped to “unbind” delegates so that they would not be obligated to cast their votes in accordance with their states’ primary election results. Instead, they would be able to vote their conscience and theoretically vote against Trump. |
| While it is unlikely that advocates of “unbinding” would have the necessary votes to force a minority report, which would lead to a floor fight – or contested vote on the floor – on the issue, a deal with social conservatives would almost guarantee a peaceful convention. | While it is unlikely that advocates of “unbinding” would have the necessary votes to force a minority report, which would lead to a floor fight – or contested vote on the floor – on the issue, a deal with social conservatives would almost guarantee a peaceful convention. |
| The deal would have probably enhanced the role of social conservatives in selecting future nominees and make it more difficult for establishment candidates to become the GOP nominee. | The deal would have probably enhanced the role of social conservatives in selecting future nominees and make it more difficult for establishment candidates to become the GOP nominee. |
| One major issue that contributed to the deal’s collapse was the issues raised by changing the form of primaries used in New Hampshire and South Carolina. New Hampshire has long treasured both its role as the first primary election in the country and its tradition of independents being able to freely participate in either party’s primary. South Carolina holds the third nominating contest and does not use party registration. | One major issue that contributed to the deal’s collapse was the issues raised by changing the form of primaries used in New Hampshire and South Carolina. New Hampshire has long treasured both its role as the first primary election in the country and its tradition of independents being able to freely participate in either party’s primary. South Carolina holds the third nominating contest and does not use party registration. |
| The offer was made to a group led by former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, a former top aide to Ted Cruz. Cuccinelli previously spearheaded Cruz’s delegate operations in preparation for a contested convention. After Cruz dropped out, he switched his focus to an effort to empower the party grassroots in future contests and decentralize power from the RNC. | The offer was made to a group led by former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, a former top aide to Ted Cruz. Cuccinelli previously spearheaded Cruz’s delegate operations in preparation for a contested convention. After Cruz dropped out, he switched his focus to an effort to empower the party grassroots in future contests and decentralize power from the RNC. |
| The potential deal came after the RNC rules committee meeting was recessed shortly after beginning on Thursday morning because of an alleged printer issue. It turned out that was an excuse to enable negotiations. | The potential deal came after the RNC rules committee meeting was recessed shortly after beginning on Thursday morning because of an alleged printer issue. It turned out that was an excuse to enable negotiations. |
| Conservative activists declined to speak to reporters about negotiations as they left a convention center conference room on Thursday afternoon. | Conservative activists declined to speak to reporters about negotiations as they left a convention center conference room on Thursday afternoon. |
| Sean Spicer, the RNC’s chief strategist, told reporters about the negotiations “there are a bunch of little cats and dogs on four or five things” as the rules committee resumed its proceedings on Thursday afternoon for prolonged debate. | Sean Spicer, the RNC’s chief strategist, told reporters about the negotiations “there are a bunch of little cats and dogs on four or five things” as the rules committee resumed its proceedings on Thursday afternoon for prolonged debate. |