Trump gets outside help for potential GOP convention battle
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has a Plan B if he's faced with a contested convention, and it involves the sort of outside groups that he's called "corrupt."
While the billionaire businessman might lock up the Republican presidential nomination in the next five weeks of voting, he and his allies are simultaneously undertaking a parallel effort in case he falls short.
Outside groups, including one led by longtime Trump political ally Roger Stone, and a loose collection of colorful supporters such as "Bikers for Trump" are organizing ahead of the July convention in Cleveland.
Super political action committees "are a disaster, by the way, folks," Trump said at a Republican debate in March.
Trump set the stage for what the outside groups are going by making provocative comments about the complex way Republicans pick a nominee — "rigged," he calls it.
Voters weigh in, but each state has its own rules about what delegates go to the convention and how they must vote on a presidential candidate while they're there.
The public relations offensive is a counterpart to GOP rival Ted Cruz's carefully crafted, labor-intensive strategy of recruiting friendly delegates in hopes he can win if Trump falls short on the first ballot of voting.
The super PAC can take unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations and unions.