I think the idea was to make the offer when, between the two of them, they have 1237. That would be soon, they are almost there...
Although, it would also depend on what Cruz’s polls are telling him in New York and California.
As you say, if Trump doesn’t need his delegates, he has no leverage. That is the poker-game aspect of it. His leverage goes up the more delegates he has, unless Trump puts it together another way in which case he has no leverage at all numerically. Of course both men have some leverage even at the end, since the winner needs his opponent’s partisans to willingly give their support. To get that he almost needs his opponent’s public blessing. That would be true whichever man comes out on top.
Its more true if Cruz comes out on top. If Trump wins, having more delegates, the “losers” can fall in line without much heartburn. If Cruz comes out on top by forming a coalition, there will be hard feelings that might prevent Trump supporters from willingly supporting him. In that case, even if Cruz has the votes, Trump has almost a veto power since without his blessing a significant number of his supporters might simply sit it out, which would doom Cruz’s campaign for November.
This is why, though I prefer Cruz, I can’t see how he overcomes this hurdle. I think its Trump or Trump.
Ok, that makes sense. I would have been ok with either guy, or any number of others like Walker, Paul, or even Jindal. But I think we’re reaching a point where it’s for the benefit of everyone if we start to coalesce behind the nominee now and go after Hillary.
That’s why I find the hardcore Cruz people so misguided. They’re clearly aiming for a brokered convention, which guarantees a Hillary presidency. I really think Cruz is getting advice from a number of people who aren’t interested in what’s best for the country, the Republican Party, or even Cruz. They’re using him to advance their agenda (I.e. Bush, Graham, etc)