You have to parse it carefully, like a lawyer: "It's going to be a battle to see who can earn a majority of the delegates, elected by the people, at the convention".
It doesn't matter who gets the most delegates AWARDED. What matters is who gets the most delegates, at the convention, to vote for him.
Cruz and the GOPE have been very busy working to ensure that as many DELEGATES as possible, whether or not "bound" for Trump, are really Cruz people. They will work hard to figure out a way to deny Trump a first ballot win, even if they destroy the party as a result.
There is one rule change that would do it: Only those delegates who were elected are eligible to vote for the nominee and all others' votes do not count.
In other words, delegates which were appointed and sworn to support a particular candidate based upon a democratic, state-wide election would not be eligible. Or, perhaps not eligible on the first round, and the first round has no minimum.
I recall hearing a snarky pundit on TV saying that even with 1237 Trump couldn’t count on winning the first floor vote, because who knows, certain delegates might sleep in or something, and not show up to vote.
I can’t remember who said it, but it stuck with me and has me worrying that even if Trump does earn 1237, it won’t translate into 1237 votes on the floor.