GOP Officials Consider Possibility of First Contested Convention in 60 Years

by Associated Press

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

WASHINGTON — The Republican presidential race is so unsettled that some party officials are openly talking of a scenario that seemed almost unthinkable until now: the first contested GOP convention in 60 years.

Even if Republicans choose a nominee before they convene in Minneapolis-St. Paul on Sept. 1, there’s a good possibility he will emerge weeks or even months after the Democratic nominee is chosen, giving Democrats an advantage in fundraising, organizing and campaigning. Congressional Republicans particularly wanted an early nominee to draw voters’ attention from President Bush, whose low approval ratings could hurt the entire party in the fall.

Bush’s former top political aide, Karl Rove, told Republican officials Wednesday that major challenges await “the moment our candidate secures the nomination.” As if they needed reminding, Rove told those at the Republican National Committee’s winter meeting, “the primaries are far from over.”

Democrats also face the possibility of a long and costly battle involving Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois and former Sen. John Edwards. But officials attending the RNC meeting said Democrats seem likely to make their choice before a clear winner emerges from the pack of four or five still-credible GOP contenders.

“The way it looks now, it could end up in the convention,” Ron Schmidt, South Dakota’s Republican National Committeeman, said of the party’s nominating process. “It’s fascinating if you’re a political junkie.”

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