Trump gets outside help for GOP convention battle

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

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.

They’re soliciting money to pay for their transportation and housing, and they’re already trying to influence the mood of the convention with a social media campaign saying that anything short of a Trump nomination would be “stealing.”

“Our principle focus right now is Cleveland,” Stone said of his group, called Stop the Steal. “We want to bring as large a contingent as possible to demonstrate the breadth of Trump’s appeal so that the party can see graphically what they’re going to lose if they hijack the nomination from him.”

Stop the Steal and other groups are gaining steam even though Trump has insisted he wants no donor help for his bid and is beholden to no one.

Super political action committees “are a disaster, by the way, folks,” Trump said at a Republican debate in March. “Very corrupt.”

Stop the Steal is not technically a super PAC, but it operates under very similar rules.

Trump set the stage for what the outside groups are doing 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.

Stop the Steal and other Trump fans are pushing a similar message on social media and websites.

“The big steal is in full swing,” one online letter says, calling unfriendly delegates “stooges.”