Colorado’s newfound prominent role in GOP primary process

Tom Antkow is a GOP state delegate with a pivotal part to play in this unpredictable primary process.

“We have power now,” Antkow said. “It really makes our life a little bit more exciting here in Colorado.”

34 unpledged delegates are up for grabs at the state convention next month, a prize pushing Ted Cruz to campaign in Colorado Springs.

“We’re competing to win, we’re not competing to stop Trump,” Cruz said at a town hall in Milwaukee Tuesday night.

However, stopping Donald Trump from reaching the magic number of 1,237 is Cruz’s and Ohio governor John Kasich’s best hope of taking the nomination to a contested national convention in Cleveland.

“If he, Trump, is short of the number, it should be an open convention and we’ll go forward from there,” Antkow said.

Republican Sandra Bankes is an uncommitted delegate who says face-to-face time with the candidates is key.

“We’ve had candidates who have sent surrogates and they speak on the behalf of their candidate, yet it doesn’t carry the same weight as the person showing up,” Bankes said. “Kasich and Trump, if they were to come, it would be making a good statement.”

Antkow is fearful of a Trump nomination and potential presidency.

“I don’t support him,” Antkow said. “I will still vote and I may just abstain from voting for the presidential candidate. It’s just that simple.”

The state delegate, a core conservative, worries a brokered convention could shatter the Republican Party.

“I’m fearful we’re going to have such a mess at the convention level and the national level,” Antkow said. “I think our entire system could be in jeopardy.”