If Paul delegates in bound states can abstain or vote present AND if their action does not reduce the 1,144 number... isn't a brokered convention guaranteed? I've been looking around here, DP, and elsewhere, but haven't been able to find a definitive answer on whether or not bound delegates can abstain or vote present and, if so, whether or not either action reduces the 50% +1 number needed, which for this year is 1,144. I've found past examples of voters abstaining, but since convention rules aren't decided on until they're voted on at the convention, I've been looking at the 2008 rules. (2008 Rules pdf: http://www.gop.com/images/legal/2008_RULES_Adopted.pdf)
Here are two contradictory arguments from the DP
http://www.dailypaul.com/229263/boun...cannot-abstain
http://www.dailypaul.com/229408/yes-you-can-abstain
Is it possible to know the answer to this question before the convention? If 2012 follows Robert's Rules, do we have the numbers to adjust the rules to make bound delegates unbound or at least give them the ability to abstain/vote present?
Does the campaign have a definitive answer?
Side note:
While reading, Rule 15.b.2. caught my attention... it says if a state holds its election before April 1st, then its delegates must be proportional. My state, Florida, was penalized half of its delegate number for scheduling too early, but it's sending winner-take-all delegates... how is that possible? I heard Newt's team was going to sue to change from winner-take-all to proportional, did anything come of that effort?
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