A new poll has Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump handily defeating Sen. [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore] in Indiana’s primary, the state that’s possibly Cruz’s last, best hope of salvaging his chances at the nomination.
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Marist poll released Sunday has Trump beating Cruz by 15 points with likely Republican primary voters. Indiana’s 57 delegates will be in play at the state’s Republican primary Tuesday.
Cruz has suggested the state, where he trails Trump 49 to 34, will be the deciding factor in the primary race, though he didn’t say he would drop out if he loses.
“It gives me great comfort that this primary is going to be decided by the Midwestern common sense of the Hoosier State,” Cruz told Fox News Friday.
Cruz has been campaigning at an all-out pace. He announced former Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina as his running mate Wednesday, but the news seems to have done little to swing momentum in his favor. Republican candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich has 13 percent in Indiana. Cruz has clung to the idea there will be a contested convention, but poor showings in the states leading up to that convention would seriously hurt his chances.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence gave Cruz a tepid endorsement Friday.
“I’m not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the upcoming Republican primary,” Pence told WCIB radio in Indianapolis. “I urge everyone to make up their own mind.”
“Let me be very clear on this race: Whoever wins the Republican nation for president of the United States, I’m going to work my heart out to get elected this fall,” he added.
Trump told Fox News Sunday if he wins Indiana, “it’s over.”
“I think it’s over now,” Trump said. “But it’s over. Cruz cannot win. Cruz cannot win. He’s got no highway.”
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