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Delaware GOP chairman expects strong support for Trump at convention

Posted at 5:55 PM, Apr 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-30 17:55:35-04

DEWEY BEACH, Delaware — The head of Delaware’s Republican Party on Saturday predicted Donald Trump will enjoy strong delegate support from the state deep into the party’s national convention in July.

Trump carried the state last week with 60.8% of the vote, capturing all 16 of the delegates up for grabs. But the delegates are only required to back Trump on the first ballot if there’s a contested convention in July — theoretically, they could switch their support to another candidate if there’s a second ballot and beyond.

But that won’t happen, said Charlie Copeland, Delaware’s Republican Party chairman.

“There is a level of confidence that on a second ballot or thereafter, that 15 of the 16 will continue with Mr. Trump, because in the end, it is the will of the people of the state of Delaware that must be carried on,” Copeland said.

Delaware’s GOP state convention voted 370 to 8 for its proposed slate of delegates to go to the Republican National Convention.

One of the delegates, Robert Stout, stood by Copeland’s pursuit of party unity and said that although he originally supported Rand Paul for president, he will absolutely support Trump throughout the national convention.

“Delaware has spoken,” Stout said. “I think that (Trump) speaks to the feeling of people in the country, of conservatives in the country, and at the end of the day, we’ll see at the general election if, you know, we’ll see the will of the people.”

Only two representatives for Ohio Gov. John Kasich were in attendance Saturday, and there appeared to be no supporters for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on the premises.