On the other hand, given the stakes involved, the animosity between the leading candidates and their supporters and the ugly underbelly of politics, a contested convention televised live would almost immediately devolve into a complete and utter disaster for the GOP.

Republican Party rules are set in such a way that encourages the sorts of backroom deals that have so enraged voters across the political spectrum. The rules as written bind the 2,472 delegates who will attend the Republican National Convention this year to the candidates for whom they are pledged for at least one ballot. (Some states require delegates to be bound for more than one ballot, but every state requires loyalty on the first ballot.)

If that first ballot passes without a nominee, the race to trade favors would begin almost before the votes are tallied. Any candidates who lag in the initial count would be happy to jockey for Cabinet posts or other prized plums, and even ambitious delegates might offer their votes for an ambassadorship or some other goodie.

In fact, there’s nothing to stop candidates from offering to trade votes on the first ballot, by releasing their delegates before the roll is called. The decision to throw support behind another candidate could come down to a judgement over when that endorsement carries the most value.