 McKinley remained well ahead when the state conventions concluded , leaving his opponents ' only hope the Republican National Committee ( RNC ) , which would make initial rulings on which delegates would be seated ; there were contested seats or rival delegations in several states , and rulings against McKinley could still deprive him of a first @-@ ballot majority . When the RNC met in mid @-@ June , just prior to the convention , McKinley was easily victorious in almost all cases . 
