A few months ago, the GOP had a cavalcade of candidates competing for their party’s nomination for President of the United States. Slowly, but surely, the herd was thinned from a high of 17 to a low of four by the “Ides of March” primaries last Tuesday.
Donald Trump won big in Florida and elsewhere March 15. John Kasich won “one in a row” in Ohio, his home state. Although he survived to fight at least a few more rounds, Kasich still has a death grip on last place.
The biggest loser last week was Marco Rubio. “Trumped” in his own home state of Florida, Rubio announced he was suspending his campaign. In a bittersweet and eloquent concession speech, he congratulated Mr. Trump, thanked his supporters, including his family, and said he would support whoever the GOP nominee turns out be.
Rubio’s departure shrinks the field down to three men still standing. The delegate count as of this writing has Trump well ahead, with 662 delegates, Cruz is second, with 408 delegates, and Kasich is a very distant third, with just 143 delegates.
Clearly, the delegate math favors Trump. Remember, the magic number required to clinch the GOP nomination for president is 1,237. With 31 states down and 19 more to go, including delegate-rich California, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and New Jersey, he needs only 575 delegates to win.
The challenge for Cruz is much tougher. He needs 829 more delegates to reach 1,237. As for Kasich, he needs a whopping 1,194 more delegates to get to 1,237. 
What happens if no one grabs the “brass ring” in 2016? The GOP would then be faced with a “brokered” or contested National Convention in July. Trump is likely to be way ahead when “Trump One” lands in Cleveland, Ohio. Let’s say he arrives with 1,200 delegates in his pocket. As a gambler, he knows he’s holding a very strong hand, tantalizingly close to a winning one.
  However, “close” may count in hand grenades and horseshoes, but not in delegates. So, in this hypothetical scenario, Trump still has to reach out and negotiate with convention attendees to wind up with at least 1,237 votes. If  he fails to prevail on the  first ballot, the convention turns to a second ballot, and, if necessary, a third, and so on, until he -- or someone else -- reaches 1,237 votes.    
The GOP hasn’t had a contested convention in 40 years. The last one was in 1976, when Ronald Reagan challenged incumbent, and embattled, President Gerald Ford for the nomination. Reagan lost, but instead of whining about it and turning “third party,” he took it like a man and supported Ford.
Reagan’s example of civility and good sportsmanship in 1976 could be a lesson to learn from in 2016. So could his role in uniting the Republican Party for White House wins in 1980, 1984, 1988, and beyond. Failure to read and heed those lessons could mean disaster for the GOP this year -- and for many years to come.
Retired Army Col. Thomas B. Vaughn can be reached at tbvbwmi@blomand.net.