Republicans and Democrats in Kansas, Republicans in ME and Democrats in Nebraska snubbed the front-runners Saturday on a heartening night for Ted Cruz in the GOP contest and Bernie Sanders in the Democratic race.
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Front-runner Hillary Clinton aims to add to her lead Saturday as Democratic voters head to the polls in three states.
But it’s where Cruz has logged victories that has Trump’s team paying attention. Republicans and Democrats in Louisiana also were voting on Saturday, as were Democrats in Nebraska.
“Everyone’s trying to figure out how to stop Trump”, the billionaire marveled at an afternoon rally in Orlando, Florida, where he had supporters raise their hands and swear to vote for him.
“God bless Kansas”, Mr Cruz declared during a rally in Idaho, which votes in three days.
Cruz, for his part, said his strong showing was “a manifestation of a real shift in momentum”.
Count Wichita’s Barb Berry among those who propelled the Texas senator to victory in Kansas, his fifth win of the nominating race. “For everybody who thinks that having a caucus in Kentucky was not a good thing, have you ever seen this kind of enthusiasm for a primary in the state of Kentucky?”
On the Democratic side, there was another divided verdict from voters. – Halie Saldana, 20, of Lewiston, Maine, on why she supported Cruz.
Since winning seven of 11 contests on Super Tuesday, Trump has come under withering fire from a Republican establishment anxious he will lead the party to a resounding defeat in November’s elections. During a primary-night news conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said “it’s time for Marco to
the deck” and get out of the race after a series of disappointing finishes.
Going into the weekend round, Donald Trump leads in the GOP race with 329 delegates.
“Where I grew up, if someone keeps punching people in the face, eventually someone’s going to have to stand up and punch them back”. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, at the national convention in Cleveland this summer will depend on a state party formula. He’s hoping his emphasis on reducing income inequality plays well in a state hit hard over the years by shifting economic trends and globalization. While it may be too late to consolidate voters behind a single non-Trump candidate, his rivals could collectively deprive him of the majority of delegates required to sew up the nomination.
So far, Mr Cruz has claimed six states including Kansas and ME, and Mr Rubio has won one.
The next big primary contests are scheduled for March 15, when the delegate-rich, winner-take-all states of Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and OH will vote.
Democratic and Republican politicians are fighting over 156 and 178 delegates, respectively, according to ABC News.
If Trump takes both Florida and OH he would be almost impossible to stop.
Voters in five states are voting this Saturday, with more than 100 delegates up for grab in each party.
While Clinton remains the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, Sanders had reason to celebrate Saturday night after winning caucuses in Kansas and Nebraska.
Louisiana political analyst Silas Lee told CNN on Saturday that his state could reflect the underlying trends shaping the wider Republican race.
Clinton has opened up a big delegate lead and Sanders might have a tough time making up the difference.
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On the Democratic side, Clinton has outpaced Sanders with 1,066 delegates to his 432, including pledged superdelegates – members of Congress, governors and party officials who can support the candidate of their choice.
