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Cruz getting the jump on delegates in Indiana too?
Hot Air ^ | April 9, 2016 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 04/09/2016 5:17:05 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Most of the focus for the presidential primaries in both parties goes to New York, the next event on the schedule and the second-largest basket of delegates in the sweepstakes. On the GOP side, the polling shows a lopsided contest, with Donald Trump trouncing Ted Cruz and gaining a majority in every survey since the beginning of March. The leftover attention after New York generally falls to California, the biggest prize, and Pennsylvania, where most delegates will be unbound at the convention anyway.

Hardly anyone has paid attention to Indiana, which holds its primary on May 3rd and has 57 Republican delegates up for grabs. Pollsters have done no work in Indiana at all, at least according to the curation at Real Clear Politics. Given its Rust Belt identity and blue-collar composition, Trump and John Kasich should both have some resonance, but Cruz may pre-empt them both if the convention goes to a second ballot. Politico’s Kyle Cheney asserts that Trump is “getting trounced,” at least in the 27 delegates chosen at the caucuses today, and almost certainly in the other 27 chosen by the state Republican committee a week later:

Indiana GOP insiders are working to engineer slates of delegates — three from each of nine congressional districts — that will turn their backs on Trump at a contested convention in July. Another 27 will be elected at a state committee meeting next week.

Indiana’s delegates will be bound to the results of the state’s May 3 primary on the first vote in Cleveland, and Trump is expected to be competitive in that contest. (There is no current public polling of the state, but several GOP leaders suggested he’d be competitive in at least a couple of the state’s nine Congressional districts.) But if Trump fails to clinch the nomination, they’ll be free to vote their conscience — and that means a rapid rejection of Trump. The state’s Republican national committeeman, John Hammond, has vocally called to reject Trump as well.

That would mark just another blow to Trump’s chances, should the convention go to a second ballot as expected. Though he’s won more votes and state primaries than rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich, Trump has failed spectacularly to win separate delegate selection battles to his better-organized rivals. Though in most cases, he’s lost because of Cruz’s superior organization, Indiana appears to be a break from the norm. Most of the hostility to Trump there is homegrown.

Unclear? The primary is in effect a straw poll of Indiana voters, and delegates will be bound to that outcome on the first ballot no matter who they personally prefer. After that, delegates get to choose their own candidate. That makes delegate election in the caucuses and by committees a crucial part of organizing for victory — a crucial part that the Trump campaign has neglected until now.

And now it’s too late, at least in Indiana. The deadline to file as a candidate for the delegate slots passed on March 15th, Cheney notes, which means that Trump will have to see if he can woo any of the already-registered candidates. On top of that, the process in Indiana requires a hefty fee of $2000, which means that not too many of these will be casual first-timers but serious party activists.

In fact, some of them might be interested in other candidates than Cruz or Kasich, too:

“I am supporting the Draft Mitch Daniels for President at the convention,” said Nick Barbknecht, a candidate for alternate from the state’s 2nd District, who is also the district GOP vice chairman. Dunn and John agreed that they’d support a Daniels candidacy if it emerged.

Er … good luck on that idea. Another governor might have a little more impact on the popular vote, however:

Gov. Mike Pence revealed Friday that he’s been contacted by representatives of the three Republican presidential candidates as a prelude to possible endorsement ahead of Indiana’s May 3 primary election.

Pence so far is remaining mum on whether he favors former Gary casino owner Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, or Ohio Gov. John Kasich for the GOP nomination, but said he may announce his choice in the weeks ahead.

“I haven’t ruled it out,” Pence said.

The first-term Republican, who is running unopposed next month for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, seemed excited that Indiana actually could matter in this year’s presidential primaries for Republicans and Democrats.

“That hasn’t happened too often in my lifetime, and frankly I think it’s going to be great for Hoosiers and it’s going to be even better for these candidates because Hoosiers are people with strong hearts and strong opinions,” Pence said.

All three candidates will lobby heavily for Pence’s endorsement. If Trump doesn’t get it, we’ll see soon enough whether he learned from his Wisconsin debacle, or whether he lashes out at the still-popular Republican governor. Kasich would seem the most likely candidate for Pence’s imprimatur; they’re both governors, both work in Rust Belt electorates with similar challenges, and both served in Congress, although their tenures did not overlap (Kasich left after the 2000 election that put Pence in the House). However, Cruz has more momentum and better organization, and Pence might not want his endorsement to have no impact on the outcome as it might with Kasich — especially since Kasich performed so badly in Wisconsin, another similarly-situated state.

If Cruz can convince Pence to endorse him, then the primary vote may make the second-ballot delegate considerations moot.


TOPICS: Indiana; Campaign News; Parties; State and Local
KEYWORDS: cruz; cruzisobama2; in2016; indiana; repost; tedcruz; trump
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To: E20erer

I apologize that my candidate is smarter and more well-organized than yours. LOL


41 posted on 04/09/2016 6:35:02 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: tallyhoe
Disgusting

Cruz's campaign strategy isn't actually winning primaries, instead it's manipulating his people into places of influence which go against the will of the actual voters.

Cruz is sick person and diabolical. No wonder Jeff Sessions, Sarah Palin, Dallas Pastor Dr Jeffress, Jerry Falwell Jr all have supported Trump. No wonder Cruz LOST the South.

Again, Cruz lost the south and his back up plan is to steal delegates. Cruz has single handledly turned off people who were neutral in record time because he is so slimy.

42 posted on 04/09/2016 6:39:21 PM PDT by E20erer (#AlwaysTrump)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If Cruz does win the nomination by thief, he will LOSE the election, and lose it BIGTIME.


43 posted on 04/09/2016 6:42:58 PM PDT by heights
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To: heights

Against an unindicted traitor?


44 posted on 04/09/2016 6:45:27 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I apologize that my candidate is smarter and more well-organized than yours. LOL


Correction:

I apologize that my candidate is Sleazy and more well-organized in disenfranchising millions of voters who were confident that their states votes would go to Trump, than yours. LOL

And if you are a Cruz fan


45 posted on 04/09/2016 6:46:39 PM PDT by E20erer (#AlwaysTrump)
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To: gov_bean_ counter

Dude it’s true you complain nonstop about how you hate democratic voters going for trump just like Reagan. I hope you don’t have alhzhimers.


46 posted on 04/09/2016 6:58:53 PM PDT by napscoordinator (Trump/Hunter, jr for President/Vice President 2016)
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To: E20erer

These delegates are unbound.. It is not cheating you just have to know how the game is played.. If Trump can’t do this how is he going to handle a Treaty with another country huh?


47 posted on 04/09/2016 7:18:35 PM PDT by tallyhoe
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To: E20erer

Get this!!!

http://www.redstate.com/absentee/2016/04/09/ha-ha-trumps-best-people-accidentally-tell-supporters-vote-cruz-delegates/


48 posted on 04/09/2016 7:27:45 PM PDT by tallyhoe
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To: dforest

It’s not “screwing people out of their votes”. The flipin’ votes in Indiana haven’t even been cast yet. Take a deep breath..


49 posted on 04/09/2016 8:16:58 PM PDT by JSDude1
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Cruz has been running a brilliant campaign. Very inspiring.


50 posted on 04/09/2016 9:49:13 PM PDT by karnage
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To: E20erer

Correction: I’m not sorry that Cruz has learned the rules of the game in which he is playing, and is employing that knowledge to increase his chances of winning. Coupled with his strong constitutionalist principles, he makes a good choice for president.

Trump has done a brilliant job at inspiring angry and disenfranchised voters, and speaking loudly for the common man who has been kicked around by the oligarchy.

Two outstanding candidates. I hope that they will team up when the time is right and unify the party - on their way to unifying the country.


51 posted on 04/09/2016 9:55:02 PM PDT by karnage
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Trump, Kasich box out Cruz in Michigan delegation


52 posted on 04/10/2016 12:07:37 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Sending out the hordes of locusts to do as much behind the scenes (out of public view) as possible. It ain’t who gets the votes, it’s who manipulates/counts the votes that matters....


53 posted on 04/10/2016 3:47:44 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’ll thank you for service and stand by my comment.

The politburo used to provided candidates too. yes I think this is messed up. I have no shared value with anyone that agrees with gaming the process regardless of legality.


54 posted on 04/10/2016 4:20:55 AM PDT by zek157
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

no mockery here.


55 posted on 04/10/2016 4:23:15 AM PDT by zek157
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To: dforest; 2ndDivisionVet
It will make him more despised.

I do not think it is possible for Ted Cruz to be more despised then he already is. Nobody likes a liar and a traitor.

56 posted on 04/10/2016 4:30:30 AM PDT by jpsb (Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. Otto von Bismark)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“Indiana GOP insiders are working to engineer slates of delegates — three from each of nine congressional districts — that will turn their backs on Trump at a contested convention in July. Another 27 will be elected at a state committee meeting next week. “

A path to defeat.


57 posted on 04/10/2016 4:32:56 AM PDT by McGruff
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; zek157
Attacking veterans, just like your idol. I’m disabled, go ahead and mock that too.

Playing the "Oh poor pitiful me" card are we? That disabled vet thing only works if you have a purple heart. And zek157 did not attack you. And since when does Trump attack veterans? I think you are a liar just like your idol.

58 posted on 04/10/2016 4:42:38 AM PDT by jpsb (Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. Otto von Bismark)
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To: jpsb

To be fair Trump did somewhat hit the idiot Admirals son that bombed the Forrestal.


59 posted on 04/10/2016 5:01:16 AM PDT by zek157
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To: zek157

McCain has been milking that pow thing for decades, enough already. McCain and his fellow neocons have destabilized the entire middle east resulting in an Islamic invasion of Europe, screw him. Thank goodness the Egyptian Military overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood government there or things would be way worse. McCain wanting to arm ISIS to over throw Assad was the last straw for me, the man is an idiot.


60 posted on 04/10/2016 5:09:29 AM PDT by jpsb (Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. Otto von Bismark)
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