Trump, Cruz hunt for loyalists ahead of Arizona convention

Arizona’s 58 delegates to the Republican National Convention must vote for Donald Trump — at least in the first round of balloting.

But what they will do if there is a second round is an intriguing mystery and why next weekend’s state Republican convention is important.

The 1,251 delegates to the state convention will pick 55 national convention-goers from a list of nearly 750 candidates. Three more Arizonans are guaranteed seats because of their positions with the state GOP.

Each of the names will appear without further identifying information. Is a delegate a Trump voter through and through? Or someone willing to jump to Ted Cruz, John Kasich or someone else if the nomination process lasts more than one round?

The Cruz and Trump campaigns are calling and emailing the roughly 750 Arizona candidates to determine their loyalties. The campaigns want to be able to show up at the state convention in Mesa with preferred lists of national delegates.

Mariano Rodriguez, a local Trump supporter, has been interviewed by CNN and news outlets from across the globe. Even though he has been public about his choice, Rodriguez said he has gotten two calls from people asking him to support Trump.

To add to the confusion, some delegates, including former Pima County Republican Chair Carolyn Cox, are refusing to say who they will vote for in a potential second round of voting.

The winner-take-all rules from last month’s presidential preference election require Arizona delegates to back Trump, but only for the first round.

Constantin Querard, state director of the Cruz for President campaign, said he expects competing slates will be offered to the state-convention delegates.

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He also expects some delegates to vote for friends first and then portions of the recommended slates second.

Trump supporters are comparing Cruz’s strategy to cattle rustling, stealing delegates who rightfully belong to the man who won 47 percent of the popular vote in Arizona. Cruz received 25 percent and Kasich 10.

Jeff DeWit, the chair of the Trump campaign for Arizona, says the Cruz strategy is defying the will of Arizona voters.

He said the Trump campaign has energized the Republican base and it would be “suicidal” for the party in November if the GOP insiders manipulate the convention process to support any other nominee.

DeWit said if there is a second round of voting at the national convention, the margins could be so tight that the size of the Arizona delegation — 58 — could be enough to decide who will be the presidential nominee.

The roughly 750 people who want to represent Arizona in Cleveland compares with about 200 who sought spots four years ago, said Pima County Republican Party Chair Bill Beard. The rules for choosing are unchanged, he added.

Voting will occur in two phases. (See our infographic “The road to Cleveland" for a breakdown on how it works.) The Maricopa County Elections Department will use its machines and staff to tabulate results.

In the event of ties, the winner will be chosen by flipping a coin or drawing cards.

The three people guaranteed seats in Cleveland are Phoenician Robert Graham, chair of the state party; Tucsonan Bruce Ash, who is running unopposed as the state’s national committeeman; and the state’s national committeewoman. Rae Chornenky, Lori Klein Corbin and Lynn Londen are vying to replace Sharon Giese for that job.