Hash words, political infighting and efforts to stop a leading GOP candidate could all push the Republican Party into an eventual split with years of repercussions.
Dr. Michael Bowen is a professor of History and Political Science at John Carroll University who has written extensively about the Republican politics and conventions.
"It certainly appears the party is headed to a break-up," Bowen said.
Bowen pointed out the GOP has a long history of factions and bickering but nothing like what he sees happening today.
"We've never seen anything like this before," Bowen said. "The fights have always been between established Republicans who have different views--we've never seen someone come in from the outside and for lack of a better term, disrupt the party."
And Bowen said a brokered convention here in Cleveland this July is "looking a lot more likely."
Bowen said the aftermath will have consequences that will impact the party for years.
"It's going to be a very diminished organization and it's going to have to basically start from scratch building its way back into a party capable of winning the majority."
