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The only number that matters to Cruz is 956 -- the mathematical point where Trump can't get to 1,237.

Then, he will have done his job, so he can ride into Cleveland, triumphantly and be appointed the Republican nominee.

Until the GOPe decides to throw the process wide open, since no candidate won a majority during the primary.

ExploiTED!

I’m surprised no one replied to your post here because I think you’re quite right. I think that is Cruz’s goal, to deny Trump the “magic” number of 1237. I’m sure Cruz realizes that it is, for all intents and purposes, impossible to get to 1237 himself.

The point where we would disagree (I suspect) is that it is perfectly valid for him (Cruz) to do so at this point. If he can do so (deny Trump 1237 bound delegates) then by the rules of the Convention a second vote is forced. And in that second vote, it seems Cruz is lining up some unbound (and some of Trump’s bound) delegates that he believes will then vote for him (Cruz). Because at that second vote, as well as any subsequent votes, all the delegates can vote as they choose not just for whomever they were elected to vote for.

This is perfectly in the rules because if no one reaches 1237, then by mathematical definition no one has a majority. A majority of the delegates must vote for and thus nominate the nominee. That’s the rule. The rule isn’t “whoever gets the most votes is the nominee” (that would be a “plurality” of delegates) the rule is “whoever gets the MAJORITY (again not plurality) of the delegates voting for them” is the nominee.

So like I said we probably disagree there, how “fair” that is and whatnot. However, for this reason I outlined above, if Trump ALREADY HAS a majority of delegates BEFORE the convention, then there will indeed be no reason for Cruz (or Kasich for that matter) to stay in the race other than to be a nuisance. So I will become a Trump supporter if (or when) Trump gains a mathematical MAJORITY (not simply a plurality) of the delegates.