'Unbound delegates' could decide the GOP presidential nomination

With the possibility of a contested Republican convention looming, several states and territories — like the U.S. Virgin Islands — could be a deciding factor.

The key is unbound delegates, or delegates who can freely vote for their choice in the first ballot at the Republican National Convention.

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This idea is banking on the possibility that current GOP front-runner Donald Trump won't snag the needed 1,237 delegates to secure the nominee.

A former Republican National Committee official told USA Today, "That is how the 1976 Republican convention was decided as President Ford had less than a majority of delegates pledged to him but won the lion's share of uncommitted delegates."

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The U.S. Virgin Islands may only have nine delegates, but it joins several other states and territories that have unbound delegates.

Colorado's Republican party chairman told the Hill, "I'm looking at whether the candidate is a conservative and whether they can win in November."

As of March 31, Trump had 749 delegates, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz had 455.