Donald Trump better schmooze ’em, or lose ’em

It’s an extraordinary bit of history we’re witnessing. Donald Trump ad-libbing his way to the top of American politics with a small staff, and a bare-bones budget.

He’s collected more votes than any of his rivals. But he seems to have overlooked one important detail: voters don’t choose the nominee. Delegates do.

And you’ve got to schmooze them.

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Look at the rules in Wisconsin, for example.

Wisconsin has 42 Republican delegates in all &#8212 18 of those delegates are statewide delegates, most of which will be will be vetted and chosen by whichever candidate wins the statewide vote. So they’re thoroughly committed.

But the other 24 are a different story. They’re tied to Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts. Three per district. And those people are picked without consulting the candidates.

Under the rules in Wisconsin, delegates have to stick with the winner of their congressional district at the convention, no matter what their personal preference may be.

But here’s the important part. Let’s say John Kasich wins a congressional district. On the first ballot at the convention, the delegates from that district have to vote for Kasich. Even if they absolutely hate him. And if they don’t vote &#8212 their votes will automatically be cast for Kasich.

But if at any point Kasich gets less than a third of the overall convention vote &#8212 those delegates can then rip off the mask and reveal who they really are.

They are free to go for Trump or Cruz. And that’s what’s got the Trump people in a tizzy. Because Ted Cruz has had his schmoozers on the ground for months creating relationships with those delegates. Donald Trump has not.