It will be a bustling 48 hours in the Golden State for GOP voters and presidential hopefuls alike. Close to 2,000 attendees are expected at the California Republican Party’s 2016 convention, which begins Friday just outside San Francisco. The opening act is front-runner Donald Trump.
Following a campaign night marked by unruly “Dump Trump” protests outside a campaign rally near Los Angeles, the candidate will be in much friendlier territory when he steps on the podium as the keynote speaker for a luncheon that has been sold out for weeks.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich follows during the dinner hour, with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and his new vice presidential running mate Carly Fiorina taking over the podium on Saturday.
“This is the most exciting Republican Presidential primary California has seen in generations, and we are happy that our delegates — the grassroots leaders of our party — will have the chance to hear from all of our candidates,” said party vice chairman Harmeet K. Dhillon.
There are 172 delegates up for grabs, a number that would go a long way in helping secure Mr. Trump’s quest for the 1,237 delegates he needs to secure the nomination. Multiple historians point out that this is the first time that California has played such a pivotal role in a primary since 1964, when support from the Golden State helped Barry Goldwater defeat Nelson Rockefeller for the nomination.
“This nomination may be decided in California, and what better place for party leaders to hear first-hand the different visions for the future of America than at our party convention?” Mr. Dhillion asked.
Mr. Trump currently has 994 delegates, Mr. Cruz has 566, and Mr Kasich has 153. A new Field Poll of likely California voters placed Mr. Trump in the lead with 39 percent of the vote, followed by Mr. Cruz with 32 percent, and Mr. Kasich with 18 percent. The California primary is June 7.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.