Senator Ted Cruz defeated Donald Trump in the Wisconsin Republican primary on Tuesday, which increased the possibility of a contested convention in July. Cruz obtained 36 out of the 42 delegates at stake in Wisconsin.
Cruz’s victory in Wisconsin showed that Republican voters, who cannot support Trump to be the presidential nominee for the November election, are now considering the Texas senator as their main alternative.
CNN noted that the voters in Wisconsin were not as angry and frustrated with the Republican leadership unlike those in others states where Trump won the primaries. Based on a survey, four out of 10 voters in Wisconsin are scared of Trump becoming the presidential nominee. Many believed Trump has the most dishonest campaign.
During his victory rally in Milwaukee, Cruz said, “Tonight is a turning point. I am more and more convinced that our campaign is going to win the 1,237 delegates needs to win the Republican nomination. Either before Cleveland or at Cleveland, we will win a majority of the delegates.”
Cruz already accumulated 517 delegates compared to Trump’s 743. There are 882 remaining delegates at stake in the Republican Party.
Trump’s chance to win the nomination becomes more difficult
According to political analysts, it would be more difficult for Trump to achieve the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination on the first ballot during the Republican convention.
In a statement, Katie Packer, a Republican strategist and head of the Our Principles PAC, commented, “GOP voters in Wisconsin rejected Donald Trump just like the entire Republican base will do in Cleveland this summer.” Our Principles PAC is an organization focused on stopping Trump from becoming the Republican nominee.
On the other hand, Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan GOP chairman told Politico, “There is a growing consensus that Trump’s best chance to win the nomination may have come and gone. The path for getting to 1,237 before the convention is very limited for everybody now.” Anuzis supports Cruz.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) explained the details of a contested convention to almost a dozen veteran operatives of the part during a conference call before the primary in Wisconsin.
Last week, Trump met with RNC Chair Reince Priebus regarding the rules in the convention.
Trump campaign calls Cruz “worse than a puppet”
Trump’s campaign issued a statement after the results of the Wisconsin primary, and accused Cruz of illegally coordinating with the Super PAC supporting him.
Hope Hicks, the spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, said, “Ted Cruz is worse than a puppet— he is a Trojan horse, being used by the party bosses attempting to steal the nomination from Mr. Trump. We have total confidence that Mr. Trump will go on to win in New York, where he holds a substantial lead in all the polls, and beyond.”
Hicks added that the billionaire is the only candidate who can secure the required number of delegates to win the Republican nominations and ultimately defeat the Democratic nominee.
