But the prospect of Donald Trump clinching the nomination in the Golden State has scrambled the party’s political fault lines in advance of its pivotal June primary.
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Still, Trump didn’t relent in his attacks against the Texas senator, whom Trump accused of being a liar.
Overall, Trump has 996 delegates, compared to 565 for Cruz and 153 for Kasich, according to the AP delegate count.
At the state GOP Convention, which convenes 9 a.m. Saturday at the Mesa Convention Center, Republicans will consider pro-Trump and pro-Cruz delegate slates.
On Friday, Trump had to enter the convention hotel from a rear entrance to avoid hundreds of demonstrators who had pushed through police barricades to the front door of the hotel. More than a dozen protesters were arrested.
The windows of a police auto were smashed and several people were injured before the crowd was brought under control.
John Ben, of Mission Viejo, said he views Cruz as a pure and honest conservative in the tradition of former President Ronald Reagan.
“I’m anxious about a divided, polarised country”, Kasich said. “Cruz is an action guy”.
Trump also said ending the GOP primary fight would free him up to train his fire on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, who is on the verge of clinching the Democratic nomination.
“It felt like I was crossing the border”, Trump joked at a lunch banquet to hundreds of Republicans, who burst into laughter.
The governor presented himself as a unifying candidate with an uplifting message.
Cruz, a US Senator from Texas, is trailing the NY billionaire in the Midwestern state after losing to him by a wide margin in all five Northeastern states that held nominating contests on Tuesday.
“It’s really offensive to have him play on people’s fears. This country has been great when people come together, they can accept one another’s differences, and at the end of the day they do something to help their children and their grandchildren have a better life, and even help themselves at the same time”. Protesters reportedly threw rocks and eggs at police and Trump supporters say they were shoved and even spat on. Those delegates are required to first vote for Trump at the convention because he won the state, but they could later switch their votes to Cruz. But the grinding battle to elect loyal delegates, whose support could prove crucial in the case of a contested convention, has in some states exposed organizational cracks in the Trump camp, which continues to struggle in its efforts to back up strong primary and caucus performances at state-level conventions and meetings.
“That’s the big question that every single person here in this room is anxious about”.
Mr. Trump’s remarks offered a vivid illustration of the current state of his campaign: As he edges closer to the nomination, he is under pressure to curb his hard-edged language and exude a more statesmanlike demeanor.
Fifth, I suggested his lack of endorsements by major Republican politicians would hurt his credibility within traditional Republican ranks. Outside, a giant Mexican flag fluttered in the middle of the protest. “I loved her”, she said of Fiorina’s 2010 Senate bid. He also raised concerns about Cruz winning support away from the businessman on a second ballot.
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“He needs to be more embracing of the different factions of the party”, she said. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz on Friday picked up the backing of Governor Mike Pence of IN, the next state to hold a nominating contest.
