Unpledged delegates in the Republican Party do not have to indicate a candidate preference, but a majority are elected just like pledged delegates.

CNN: Newt Gingrich Results - Primaries - 2012 Election Center - Elections & Politics from

Put simply, there are enough unpledged delegates and super delegates on the Republican side that if consolidation toward Governor Romney appears to be clear and inevitable, he could well get support from delegates not currently elected or pledged to him, as the process winds towards May and perhaps June.

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CNN's most recent estimate gives 812 delegates to McCain, including 26 "unpledged" delegates, and 217 to Huckabee including three unpledged.

CNN: McCain sweeps Potomac primaries; conservatives still cool