Cruz tops Trump in North Dakota delegate race

FARGO, N.D. — Ted Cruz’s preferred candidates won the vast majority of convention delegates available in North Dakota over the weekend, taking 18 of 25 slots in the state in another show of organizational strength over Donald Trump.

It’s still not clear how loyal all of Cruz’s slate will be if the Republican nomination heads to a contested convention in Cleveland, as several included on it told POLITICO they were only leaning toward Cruz, or simply opposed to Trump.

But the result was bad news for Trump, who may need unbound delegates like those in North Dakota to lift him above the 1,237 delegate threshold to secure the GOP nomination this summer on the initial ballot. Only one of the 25 delegates selected Sunday has publicly signaled he might back Trump.

“This is a catastrophic outcome for the Trump campaign in North Dakota,” said Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Cruz. "Just when you thought the Donald’s horrible, very bad, no good week couldn’t get any worse, it just did.”

The North Dakota delegation has been heavily sought after because they are free agents from the first ballot in Cleveland, able to support Cruz, Trump or John Kasich. State rules do not, however, require to name the candidate they support before being elected — leaving their votes in question up until the convention in July.

The selection of delegates came after a hard-fought weekend of schmoozing and arm-twisting, as Cruz delivered a keynote convention address, Carly Fiorina campaigned on his behalf all weekend, and Ben Carson spoke for Trump. Kasich’s campaign sent former Sen. Gordon Humphrey of New Hampshire as their top surrogate but the state party gave him an untimely speaking slot after the delegate ballots had been cast.

Perhaps if the GOP hears enough discontent from the voters, they will understand they will lose the election unless the will of the PEOPLE drives the nomination process

Sour Grapes much? Sounds like DU.

You have to earn those delegates and most of them weren't raised on the back side of a turnip truck. These are more astute studies of politics that look up sources when accusations are thrown out. They will not be swayed with threats (sue sue sue) by bullies that hide behind keyboard twitter accounts typing crude remarks and ducking debates. Cheap accusations without proof are discredited and frowned upon. This ain't middle school (even if the grammar from one candidate never rises above it).

Earn your nomination as the rules set it up, then you will have room to play the victim card, until then, quit whining. The promises to hold your breath and not vote is your privilege (and it is a valid option in some cases). But just because the field narrowed and you're not dominating as perhaps you expected with Trump touting every poll imaginable early on without thinking a narrower field showing his support has a roof is not my fault. Donald's negatives are his own fault, and his supporters not absorbing the fact that having an even worse negative opinion from voters than Hillary has can be problematic to other conservatives.

Speaking of conservatives, take off your high hat, Cruz is the most proven conservative person we have had in 20 years. You don't have a 97% rating (second highest in the Senate) just playing pattyfoot with RINOs. Cruz earned his honorable title and he didn't have to compromise to do it (ex. Iowa ethonol). He doesn't switch positions 5 times on abortion in 3 days. He has what a lot of us loved with Reagan, character. So much that others fabricate stories to try and drag that character in the mud.

IOWs grow up and put the blame where it belongs, in Donald's lap. The election was Trump's to pick like a ripe grape off the vine. All he had to do was plop it in his mouth and keep it shut afterwards. This brings us back full circle, back to sour grapes. Or what you get when you run your mouth so long the grape turns on you.

Not that complicated when you think about it.

Our state convention selects delegates to the National convention prior to our primary results. So it could happen that a majority of Cruz supporters are elected as delegates to the National Convention, and then Trump could win the primary

To be honest this election has had one positive affect on my this time around. It has forced me to learn a bit about the electorate system and it's unique nature. It's value isn't really known in most elections but parties have seen some surprises that have piqued interest in learning the inner workings.

I guess you are saying that your caucus is bound to vote for who won, but if freed from that obligation from the local voters it would be a different story. I personally did not know most of those running locally here, so in some cases I left it blank and hoped the other voters knew who they were selecting. So I can't offer any insight as you have as to how they might vote. Sad to say, but if I knew them and they were friendly they got my vote, but that was as deep as it got.

Thanks for sharing. I think that is twice you have made polite conversation that I have enjoyed reading in as many days. Handshake sir.

You're welcome. My 18-year old daughter is also interested in politics - so we are both going to the state convention as delegates. It is an interesting year for that. And I too am getting an education on this all. I came across an article the other day written in 2013 after the failed Romney campaign - it put much of the blame on the Republican primary method. Prior to 1972 it sounded like it was just the GOP “elite” in each state forming a caucus and voting for a candidate with 100% consensus. So saves the bashing, blood and budget for the general election.

At the district caucus last month it was very much just typical interested Republicans voting on the delegates. I am guessing it will be similar at the state convention. A few delegate's names I remember from their service in the GOP party and former elections - but most were just average Joes. So I take a lot of the talk about the GOPe “putting in” their own candidate with a grain of salt.

And yes - in Washington state the delegate is bound to whoever wins in the Primary on the first vote. After that they can vote their conscience. The Democrats don't have a primary here - just the caucus - which Bernie won. I've read where some states aren't even bound for the first ballot (S. Dakota??), and others are bound on the first two.

You’re comment does not begin to reflect what I said. I’m a realist. I do not believe Cruz can win a national campaign. Plain and simple.

Bull, if you were a "realist"" instead of a "populist" then you would know that Trump all along has had such high negatives that it even surpassed the Hildabeast. Not an easy feat to accomplish, took her years to cement her legacy. Cruz has poll after poll has been shown to do better vs Hillary than Trump. Most everyone running including the RINOs (Rubio) had a better chance vs. Hillary to be honest.

The "Plain and Simple" is someone is not telling the truth here.

You’re just not a very nice poster.

Perhaps they prefer to lose to Hillary with Cruz than win with Trump

Yeah, you're a peach with that statement yourself. Listen, I have kids that are depending on me to try and save some sort of future for them. As a Christian I am given a guideline on how to vote. Trump does NOT come close to fulfilling the requirements. Even on a secular level Trump falls short.

Principle - The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments.

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost. - John Quincy Adams

Years ago on FR, It was posted that Trump was considering running for president. It was a laugh. Read it yourself on what people thought about Trump as a conservative.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1551052/posts?

What do I really think, I think the water is so poisoned now due to Trump that Reagan himself couldn't win this election. America had the chance to put a proven conservative with a stellar voting record in office and instead decided to go a wild tangent and spit at the best candidate since Duncan Hunter.

That said, never give up fighting evil. Trump is a charlatan. From gun rights (banning "assault rifles), to saying he will support Christians (how, with strip club closures). He even suggested for Supreme Court the person known for attacking Roy Moore (Bill Pryor). When asked a favorite Bible verse, he made excuses but later just made up a verse that didn't even exist. His stance that government's job is to provide healthcare (otherwise you are uncompassionate) to saying it is the government's job to make sure you have a nice place to live.

This election Cruz tried to avoid Trump for as long as he could (he knew he was trouble). Then the lies started coming, faking an outrage over Carson, to faking infidelity. Trump followers started attacking religious bent voters because they dared point out inconsistencies in Trump playing a religious supporter in campaigns when he obviously was out of his league on the subject.

Lets play a conservative, lets play religion, lets forget character matters to voters, lets flip flop on every issue. Want specifics? Just ask, from abortion to immigration to ethanol there is not an issue Trump has held a solid line on. Heck even the TPA issue some throw out on Cruz (for first supporting it before hw changed hia mins on it), they forget who Trump financially supported (donated) to whom wrote the dang TPA and changed it behind closed doors.

Anyway, I have wrote too long now as it is. I had a few more points that popped in my head, but I have said enough.

Have a good day.

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