Although he may need them during the convention, don't expect Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump to make an attempt to woo uncommitted delegates. That's according to Kerri Milita, Assistant Professor of Politics and Government at Illinois State University.
During an appearance on GLT's Sound Ideas, Milita said, "I don't see him being able to pull that off. With Trump, it's first ballot at the convention, or not at all."
Milita said Trump's retaliatory campaign style hurt him in Wisconsin, where she says voters are more sensitive to civility and being nice.
"In the photos of campaigning in the Wisconsin diners, (Texas Senator Ted) Cruz had the sleeves rolled and it looked very natural, "she said. "Trump looked very 'New York' in a Wisconsin diner. It looked antithetical to the culture." Cruz went on to easily win the Wisconsin primary.
Milita said she wouldn't rule out a return to the race by Florida Senator Marco Rubio. He suspended his campaign March 15, following the primaries in Illinois and elsewhere.
"Rubio and (Ohio Governor John) Kasich, by one bowing out and one staying in and doing exactly what the party asked them to do, I think there's a reason that they did that," Milita said.
She said, even if Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders shockingly pulled out a victory in New York on April 19, he would not have enough momentum to begin picking off super delegates, in the way then-Illinois Senator Barack Obama did in 2008. Milita says former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains the heavy Democratic favorite.
