Comment: one thing that I don't get about this rule

In post: Don't be fooled by the misquote of RNC Rule 40

one thing that I don't get about this rule

Submitted by The Shazad on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 23:23. Permalink

is that in 2008, only 1 candidate had a plurality of delegates in any state, and that was obviously John McCain. Romney and Huckabee had won several states, but they released their delegates. Therefore, at the beginning of the roll call vote, neither candidate had a plurality in 5 states.

YET ... both Paul and Romney received a few delegate votes at the convention.

Was this rule in effect in 2008? If so, why were delegates able to vote for those candidates? If the rule was in effect and they voted anyway, then what was the practical purpose of such a rule with regard to the delegate vote?