The American Spectator: Arise, Ye Favorite Sons

The American Spectator: Arise, Ye Favorite Sons

Quin Hillyer calls on popular Republicans in later primary states to put their names on the ballot. "The way to force an open convention is for conservative candidates to amass delegates pledged to themselves rather than to McCain or Huckabee. And the way to do that is by reviving the old stratagem of the 'favorite son' candidacy. Rather than having a candidate try to run nationally, a candidate can compete just in his own home state. Win the state, or at least a majority of the delegates thereof, and you go to the convention with some bargaining power." The last time any state tried this, as far as I can remember, was Illinois in 1976, giving its delegates to Adlai Stevenson III.