Cruz And Kasich Join Hands To Defeat Trump

By R. Siva Kumar - 25 Apr '16 08:52AM

It's now Operation Cruz and Kasich, who are trying their best keep Donald Trump away from the Republican presidential nomination.

In a few minutes, the two of them announced late Sunday that they were going to divide their efforts. Cruz would focus on Indiana and Kasich on Oregon and New Mexico.

With this plan, they both hope to block out Trump from getting 1,237 delegates necessary to claim to GOP nomination this summer.

The rise and rise of Trump has thus brought together the opposing Republicans so that they can stop him. By dividing a few of the primary states and coming up with a strong alternative to Trump in each, they could take away delegates and also block Trump.

Hence, Trump is poised for a first-ballot victory Tuesday, even as they head to the polls in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Cruz campaign manager Jeff Roe said that Cruz is getting ready for the May 3 Indiana primary, even as Trump at the top of the GOP ticket is "a sure disaster."

He added: "To ensure that we nominate a Republican who can unify the Republican Party and win in November, our campaign will focus its time and resources in Indiana and in turn clear the path for Gov. Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico."

On the other hand, Kasich's chief strategist, John Weaver, noted: "Due to the fact that the Indiana primary is winner-take-all statewide and by congressional district, keeping Trump from winning a plurality in Indiana is critical to keeping him under 1,237 bound delegates before Cleveland. We are very comfortable with our delegate position in Indiana already, and given the current dynamics of the primary there, we will shift our campaign's resources West and give the Cruz campaign a clear path in Indiana."

"Encouraging," Tim Miller, a spokesman for the anti-Trump Our Principles PAC, said "See you in Cleveland."

But Dan Scavino, Trump's social media director tweeted: "Two losing politicians -- mathematically eliminated from receiving the nomination -- trying something NEW! They will FAIL!"

Finally, who was crowing?

Trump, of course. He was laughing all the way to Twitter: "Wow, just announced that Lyin' Ted and Kasich are going to collude in order to keep me from getting the Republican nomination. DESPERATION!"