A spokesman for Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign said Wednesday it’s probable that no candidate is going to win the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination before the party’s July convention.
“I think we’re going to go into this convention — probably no candidate is going to get the 1,237 majority necessary in order to win it on the first ballot,” Cruz campaign spokesman Ron Nehring said on Fox Business Network.
“And then it will go to the judgment of the individual delegates, most of whom will be unbound and free to vote their conscience on the second ballot,” Mr. Nehring said. “That’s where judgment comes into play, and people are going to see Donald Trump for who he really is.”
“I mean, there’s going to be a further examination of his record of failed business dealings, his erratic management, the troubles in his own campaign, and it’s very clear that he cannot mount a successful general election campaign,” he said.
It appears as though Mr. Cruz could get shut out of delegates in New York after Mr. Trump’s blowout win there Tuesday put the billionaire businessman closer to the 1,237 number.
Asked if he thought Mr. Cruz needed to do more in New York, Mr. Nehring said he didn’t think so and that any campaign needs to deploy its resources in a strategic way, pointing out that Mr. Trump’s win in his home state could be expected.
“John Kasich won his own state of Ohio even though he hasn’t won any states before that or since,” Mr. Nehring said. “So going forward, we’re going to continue to have a strong organization, but let’s be clear: What’s happening on the ground outside of New York, the Republican base, the grassroots Republican base of this party is uniting behind Senator Cruz, and they’re rejecting Donald Trump.”
Asked if he thinks Mr. Cruz can beat Mr. Trump in California, which is one of a handful of states to vote on June 7, Mr. Nehring said: “In terms of going forward, this remains a fight to win delegates as we go forward and ultimately, that’s a reflection of the vote.”
“Donald Trump is not winning a majority of the delegates because he’s not winning a majority of the Republican party, even though everyone knows him and everyone has an opinion about him,” he said. “He’s kind of trapped in his own brand.”
Mr. Nehring pointed out that the Cruz campaign has been organizing for a year in California.
“Ultimately, we’re going to do very well in the state of California because Senator Cruz goes to every state, [asks] for the support in every state, even those states where it’s an uphill climb,” he said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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