Editor’s note: This post has been updated with a response from Donald Trump.
Basically it's desperation time for Cruz/Kasich- a recognition that there's a good chance Trump gets to 1,237 unless drastic measures taken.
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) April 25, 2016
We’re seeing multiple reports tonight that Ted Cruz and John Kasich have formed an alliance of sorts to deny Donald Trump the delegates he needs to win the nomination on the first ballot.
The scheme has Kasich focusing on states where he is strongest — New Mexico and Oregon — which leaves Cruz free to focus his resources in an attempt to win Indiana:
Inbox: Kasich Will Marshal Campaign Resources to New Mexico and Oregon, Allow Cruz to Focus on Indiana
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) April 25, 2016
Notable given how just a week ago Kasich campaign claimed to secure most delegates in party selection https://t.co/ksraA679PJ
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) April 25, 2016
From Cruz camp: Cruz to Focus Campaign’s Time & Resources in Indiana, Allow Kasich to Focus on Oregon & New Mexicohttps://t.co/5iZd5ZgVKr
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) April 25, 2016
.@JWGOP & @jeffroe statements on new Cruz-Kasich "stop Trump" strategy/alliance of sorts pic.twitter.com/UgzzfozGpu
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) April 25, 2016
And it seems that Cruz now sees some value in Kasich staying in the race:
Team Cruz has been arguing for weeks that Kasich in the race hurts them. Tonight's developments clearly indicate otherwise
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) April 25, 2016
Recommended
Kasich camp had approached Cruz camp at Houston debate, per source, was rejected. Cruz camp approached team Kasich at RNC meeting last week
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) April 25, 2016
Cruz, Kasich Camps Unveil Divide and Conquer Anti-Trump Strategy https://t.co/lHjFNyAKPH @BGOV ($)
— Derek Wallbank (@dwallbank) April 25, 2016
The alliance is not in every state, however:
A major step, but there are seven states where Cruz/Kasich are NOT forming an alliance — including a state likely to decide it, California.
— Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) April 25, 2016
And we’ll end it with this:
Forthcoming Trump statement on coordinated Cruz/Kasich strategy should be fun…
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) April 25, 2016
Oh, there will be blood.
Update. Kasich starts cancelling events in Indiana:
Kasich camp cancels Indiana campaign events that were scheduled for Noblesville and Indianapolis on Tues
— Erica R. Brown (@EricaRBrown) April 25, 2016
Update 2. Donald Trump responds:
Wow, just announced that Lyin' Ted and Kasich are going to collude in order to keep me from getting the Republican nomination. DESPERATION!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2016
Lyin' Ted and Kasich are mathematically dead and totally desperate. Their donors & special interest groups are not happy with them. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2016
Update 3. This was posted on Trump’s website last night:
– APRIL 24, 2016 –
DONALD J. TRUMP RESPONSE TO CRUZ AND KASICH CAMPAIGNS
It is sad that two grown politicians have to collude against one person who has only been a politician for ten months in order to try and stop that person from getting the Republican nomination.
Senator Cruz has done very poorly and after his New York performance, which was a total disaster, he is in free fall and as everyone has seen, he does not react well under pressure. Also, approximately 80% of the Republican Party is against him. Governor Kasich, who has only won 1 state out of 41, in other words, he is 1 for 41 and he is not even doing as well as other candidates who could have stubbornly stayed in the race like him but chose not to do so. Marco Rubio, as an example, has more delegates than Kasich and yet suspended his campaign one month ago. Others, likewise, have done much better than Kasich, who would get slaughtered by Hillary Clinton once the negative ads against him begin. 85% of Republican voters are against Kasich.
Collusion is often illegal in many other industries and yet these two Washington insiders have had to revert to collusion in order to stay alive. They are mathematically dead and this act only shows, as puppets of donors and special interests, how truly weak they and their campaigns are. I have brought millions of voters into the Republican primary system and have received many millions of votes more than Cruz or Kasich. Additionally, I am far ahead of both candidates with delegates and would be receiving in excess of 60% of the vote except for the fact that there were so many candidates running against me.
Because of me, everyone now sees that the Republican primary system is totally rigged. When two candidates who have no path to victory get together to stop a candidate who is expanding the party by millions of voters, (all of whom will drop out if I am not in the race) it is yet another example of everything that is wrong in Washington and our political system. This horrible act of desperation, from two campaigns who have totally failed, makes me even more determined, for the good of the Republican Party and our country, to prevail!
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