[jospehm20]

My point is that Reagan was only 4% or so behind Ford. 1976 was a competitive race, this year is not even close. Cruz trails Trump by 400 delegates and millions of votes. Cruz and Trump had the same size field to contend with, the difference is that Trump was able to deal with it and Cruz was not. Cruz looks more like a tool for the establishment every day he stays in. I think it will cost him when he runs for reelection in 2018.

[Ted Grant]

I think it will cost him when he runs for reelection in 2018.

I certainly hope so.

[Dr. Sivana]

Cruz looks more like a tool for the establishment every day he stays in.

Trump certainly has a unique set of tools that have helped him become the front-runner for the nomination. I would not ascribe anything other than competitiveness keeping Cruz in. He certainly believes (as do his supporters) that he would be a better president. If this were 2012, and Romney were in Trump's position, and Trump or any arbitrarily ideal candidate were in Cruz' position, folks here would not be accusing him of staying in because he's establishment.

Cruz' odds are down, but are still better than about a dozen of the candidates who ran from the beginning. I remember when Giuliani was going to run against Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2000, a combination of marital issues and cancer knocked him out, right when he could have done something useful. He could have beaten her.

Trump as a candidate is in better health than Giuliani was at the time, but he is still in uncharted territory as a candidate. Cruz gets to decide how long he wants to stay in. As of now, no one has 1,237 delegates. Cruz has also positioned himself for a front position for 2020 or 2024, as he is certainly young enough.

We have a way to go to the convention. Cruz' presence has forced make Trump more disciplined as a candidate, and also provides a candidate for those who don't want to vote for Trump in the primaries but will still vote for Trump in the general election.