Ted Cruz takes Wisconsin primary, drops Donald Trump’s odds of GOP nod
Apr 5, 2016, 6:37 PM | Updated: 9:57 pm
File-This March 24, 2016, file photo shows Republican Presidential candidate U.S. Senator Ted Cruz making a stop at the Armory restaurant in downtown Janesville, Wis. Donald Trump is planning Tuesday to make his first campaign visit to Wisconsin, where the upcoming Republican presidential primary could mark a turning point in the unpredictable GOP race. But rival Cruz has gotten a jumpstart on the contest, racking up influential endorsements, campaigning in key regions and supported by bullish advertising campaign. (Anthony Wahl/The Janesville Gazette via AP)
(Anthony Wahl/The Janesville Gazette via AP)
Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz won the majority of delegates in Wisconsin’s primary on Tuesday, further complicating Donald Trump’s path to the party’s nomination in the process.
Cruz won 33 delegates while Trump only gained three.
Tonight is a turning point. It is a rallying cry. Join us: https://t.co/XKeU2HUmCY https://t.co/u9ncj8apjm #ChooseCruz
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 6, 2016
Tuesday’s victory for Cruz did not come as a surprise. Most polls had him leading Trump, though they varied between a double-digit and single-digit lead.
Cruz also headed into Tuesday’s contest with the backing of much of the state’s Republican leaders, including Gov. Scott Walker.
Cruz’s win not only makes things tougher on Trump, it effectively keeps the Texas senator in the race. His campaign saw Wisconsin as a crucial state in his effort to push the party toward a convention fight.
Trump recognized the same fact, saying “if we do well here (in Wisconsin), it’s over. If we don’t win here, it’s not over.”
Tuesday was the icing on the cake of Trump’s recent bad stretch.
He was embroiled in a spat involving Cruz’s wife, which he now says he regrets, was sidetracked by his campaign manager’s legal problems after an altercation with a female reporter, and stumbled awkwardly in comments about abortion.
“The last two weeks, Donald Trump has gotten his rear end whipped, over and over and over again,” Cruz said on the eve of Wisconsin’s vote.
While Trump is the only Republican with a realistic path to clinching the nomination ahead of the Republican convention, his loss in Wisconsin greatly reduce his chances of reaching the 1,237 delegates needed to do so before the GOP gathers in Cleveland.
Trump still holds a significant lead over Cruz. Going into Tuesday, Trump had 737 delegates and Cruz 475.
However, Cruz’s win means Trump must win more than 50 percent of the remaining delegates to lock the nomination before the Republican National Convention in July.
An obstacle for both Cruz and Trump is the continuing candidacy of John Kasich. The Ohio governor’s only victory has come in his home state, but he’s still picking up delegates that would otherwise help Trump inch closer to the nomination or help Cruz catch up.
Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the governor and has joined Cruz in calling for Kasich to end his campaign. Kasich cast Trump’s focus on him as a sign that he’s best positioned to win over the businessman’s supporters.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
