Donald Trump is a candidate that everyone counted out the minute he first put in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. I mean who wants a loud, outspoken, businessman as the President of the United States?
It turns out a lot of people, that’s who.
However, just a month ago it seemed unlikely that the people would be heard and their candidate would be picked. The party was headed straight for a brokered convention with no majority consensus. Despite his big wins, things felt hopeless for Donald Trump
The support for Donald Trump was something that nobody expected and most people dismissed from the beginning. He quickly rose to the top of the congested field, that at one time hosted as many as seventeen candidates. Donald Trump started winning quickly and didn’t let up.
Still, no matter how many experienced politicians dropped out, the Republican party and the mainstream media kept saying that he would never win in a one on one race. They insisted that once the field paired down Donald Trump would just be a fun story about how crazy this election was. Except, that despite only two other candidates Donald Trump is still winning.
We have New York to thank for that. Donald Trump crushed Kasich and Cruz in New York, thanks to some “New York values.”
After New York, Ted Cruz sort of lost it. He thought that he would be able to destroy Trump if the field was eliminated, but that just wasn’t happening like he thought it would. In his first signs of desperation, Ted Cruz very publicly announced that he was joining forces with John Kasich to “stop Trump”. They ironically thought that the people would support the idea of delegates, and not the people, choosing the next nomination.
Donald Trump kept winning. In fact, just this past Tuesday Donald Trump went an impressive five for five in the North-East states. Just like that, Donald Trump looks unbeatable again.
Predictably, Ted Cruz panicked even harder. He announced the day after that his vice-president would be Carly Fiorina. Yet another pick that simply reeks of desperation and gets him nowhere.
Agreed! pic.twitter.com/biyldP3CIw
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2016
The more Ted Cruz thrashes around trying to convince the Republican voters that he is their best option, the more they move away from him. Cruz’s only strength was his confidence and his utter hatred for anything resembling compromise. Yet, as this election has gone on, Cruz has started to crack and shows signs of stress. He has wavered on some issues and his teaming up with John Kasih, despite six days earlier saying he never would. Cruz abandoned the only thing he had going for him.
Plus, how does Carly Fiorina as a running mate help Ted Cruz? Who is excited for that? It is a sad display of desperation that will follow him long after this election has ended.
Despite all that, it’s still not over for Donald Trump. He has the momentum and the numbers, but he still has to cross the finish line.
Donald Trump is currently sitting around 954 delegates, 283 short of the 1,237 needed to win the nomination outright. It means he still needs to win pretty big in the new month. Trump will need to win an average of 56% of the remaining 473 delegates up for grabs. He needs to keep doing well in all the upcoming states for victory.
With how well he did in New York and the unwavering support of Chris Christie, he should mop up New Jersey’s primary on June 7 which would allow his numbers to be lower in other states. If he can do above 50% in California (and he likely can) then it will be hard for him to lose.
On Wednesday, John Kasich’s team said that the June 7th California primary will be the most important left. Obviously, it’s the last primary of the cycle and worth an amazing 172 delegates and that’s not counting the other four states up for grabs. Since the beginning of Trump winning Cruz and Kasich have been forced to retreat after each primary. John Kasich is a non-factor and if he believes he can win California than he is delusional.
Donald Trump has beaten Ted Cruz by 200 delegates in just the last 8 days. Trump is now on a path of total and crushing victory and Ted Cruz and John Kasich are in pure denial. Despite all odds, Donald Trump found a way to win and that is the greatest reason that he should be president.
