A new poll shows that Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has taken a 15-point lead over rival Sen. Ted Cruz in Indiana, where Tuesday’s primary will be key in determining whether the race heads into a contested nominating convention.
Mr. Trump topped Mr. Cruz, 49 percent to 34 percent, in the NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll released Sunday.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who pulled out of campaigning in Indiana as part of an agreement with Mr. Cruz to give Texas senator a one-on-one contest against the front-runner, captured 13 percent support in the poll.
Mr. Trump’s support appeared to increase in the wake of the Cruz-Kasich deal.
With a sweep of five primaries in Northeastern states last week, Mr. Trump opened up a path for himself to secure the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination before the July convention in Cleveland.
The only path for Mr. Cruz and Mr. Kasich is through a contested convention in which they potentially could win the nomination after multiple ballots wherein delegates switch allegiances.
Mr. Cruz needs a big win in Indiana to keep hope alive for a contested convention.
Other recent polls have shown a closer race, including a Clout Research survey that gave Mr. Trump a thin 2-point lead over Mr. Cruz.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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