Donald Trump won Indiana’s primary Tuesday, forcing Sen. Ted Cruz from the race and solidifying himself as the GOP’s’ presumptive presidential nominee — a result that was unthinkable to most Republicans just a few months ago.
Party leaders called for unity, recalcitrant GOP strategists predicted their party’s electoral doom, and Democrats welcomed the fight with Mr. Trump, calling him offensive and reckless.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich insisted he’s still in the race, but that was not convincing to analysts or to party chief Reince Priebus, who said it’s time to move on.
“@realDonaldTrump will be presumptive @GOP nominee,” Mr. Priebus said in a Twitter message posted just after Mr. Cruz dropped out of the race. “We all need to unite and focus on defeating @HillaryClinton.”
Mr. Trump will be the first major party nominee in nearly 60 years never to have held political office, and will be one of the richest men ever to run. He’s also one of the biggest question marks, having taking both sides of issues ranging from abortion to use of American military power.
He’s also shied away from laying out specific policy plans save for a few select issues such as immigration and taxes, instead relying on a vow to undo much of the Obama administration’s work and replace it with better deals at home and abroad.
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In a speech decidedly lower-key than usual, Mr. Trump on Tuesday praised his erstwhile competitors, thanked his backers, congratulated Mr. Priebus for the way he’s run the process, vowed to win over Hispanic voters, and said he’s going to turn his attention to likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
“We want to bring unity to the Republican Party. We have to bring unity,” he said, predicting that some of his fiercest critics from the primary season will now come on board.
With most of the votes tallied in Indiana, Mr. Trump led 53 percent to Mr. Cruz’s 37 percent. Mr. Kasich lagged far behind with about 8 percent.
Overall, Mr. Trump has nearly twice the number of delegates as Mr. Cruz, and seven times the number of Mr. Kasich, and is likely to sweep the remaining primaries.
He’s now even in a better position than Mrs. Clinton, who has been Democrats’ likely nominee for years, but who has yet to put away a nagging challenge from Sen. Bernard Sanders. Indeed, Mr. Sanders won Indiana’s primary Tuesday, forcing Mrs. Clinton to continue to focus on her nomination race, even as Mr. Trump turns to the general election.
Mr. Trump had promised to change his tone once he saw off his Republican competitors and appeared to take the first steps Tuesday night.
SEE ALSO: John Kasich insists Donald Trump can still be stopped
“This country is going to become one beautiful loving country,” he said. “We’re going to love each other.”
Some Republicans said he’ll struggle to find love within his own party, much less the country as a whole.
“If nominated, he will lose in historic fashion, threaten down-ballot campaigns and likely usher in a Clinton presidency,” said Rory Cooper, a senior adviser to the movement that dubbed itself #NeverTrump and that set its sights on stopping Mr. Trump at all costs.
Mr. Cooper said Mr. Trump ruins the electoral map for Republicans, risking deep-red states such as Utah and Mississippi.
But others began to warm to Mr. Trump.
“Today, the American people had their final say on the Republican nomination, and the party will now unite around Donald Trump, likely against Hillary Clinton,” said Mark Meckler, a major figure in the tea party movement. “Many have stepped in front of the Trump political wrecking ball, and so far none have survived. Hillary’s supporters might want to begin praying for her.”
Mrs. Clinton’s campaign manager, John Podesta, said voters will see Mr. Trump as “too big of a risk.”
“Hillary Clinton has proven that she has the strength to keep us safe in an uncertain world and a lifelong record of fighting to break down the barriers — economic and social — that hold working families back,” he said in a statement. “While Donald Trump seeks to bully and divide Americans, Hillary Clinton will unite us to create an economy that works for everyone.”
Mr. Kasich tried to cool the coronation for Mr. Trump, insisting he’s still competing.
“As long as it remains possible, Gov. Kasich will fight for the higher path,” said Kasich strategist John Weaver. “Ted Cruz ran a strong campaign, stood for conservative principles and exposed a lot about Donald Trump. Gov. Kasich will continue to campaign and offer the voters a clear choice for our country.”
Mr. Trump, though, has methodically dispatched each of his rivals, and Mr. Cruz appeared to be the most formidable alternative.
Mr. Cruz had insisted Indiana would be his chance to regain his footing after stumbling in the country’s northeast. He orchestrated a one-on-one fight with Mr. Trump after making a deal to keep Mr. Kasich from competing in Indiana, and he won the backing of Gov. Mike Pence. He and his allies also vastly outspent Mr. Trump.
Voters, though, didn’t respond.
“We gave it everything we’ve got, but the voters chose another path,” Mr. Cruz said at his postelection party.
Just hours earlier, such a speech would have been unthinkable, when Mr. Cruz unloaded months of frustration on Mr. Trump, calling him a “bully,” a proud “serial philanderer,” a “narcissist” and a “pathological liar,” and pointing to the reality TV star’s own acknowledged struggle with a venereal disease as reason he can’t be elected.
“As the father of two young girls, the idea of our two daughters coming home and repeating what that man says horrifies me,” Mr. Cruz told reporters.
Mr. Cruz didn’t mention Mr. Trump in his speech Tuesday night, but Mr. Trump had kind words for him.
“Ted Cruz — I don’t know if he likes me or he doesn’t like me — but he is one hell of a competitor,” the businessman said. “He has got an amazing future.”
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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