Donald Trump
virtually clinched the Republican nomination for president Tuesday
night, a stunning victory for the brash billionaire who was considered
more a celebrity curiosity than a serious candidate when he entered the
race less than a year ago. He soundly defeated Ted Cruz, his last real
rival, in the Indiana primary and the Texas senator quickly dropped out.
"Thank you Indiana, we were just projected to
be the winner," said Trump, still highly controversial in his own party
but a long shot no more.
Trump still must win about 200 more delegates
to clinch the nomination. But his victory in Indiana — where he picked
up at least 45 of the state's 57 delegates — made it all but impossible
for Cruz to block him from doing so.
Cruz told a somber crowd in Indianapolis: I've
said I would continue on as long as there was a viable path to victory;
tonight I'm sorry to say it appears that path has been foreclosed."
Cruz campaigned aggressively in Indiana, but
could not overcome Trump. The billionaire businessman has stunned the
Republican Party with his appeal to voters deeply frustrated with
Washington and their own party's leaders.
Before Tuesday's results, Cruz had vowed to
stay in the race through the final primaries in June, clinging to the
possibility that Trump would fall short of the 1,237 delegates he needs
and the race would go to a contested convention.
Trump now faces pressure to unite a Republican
Party that has been roiled by his candidacy. But whether he can
accomplish that remains deeply uncertain.
Even before the Indiana results were
finalized, some conservative leaders were planning a Wednesday meeting
to assess the viability of launching a third party candidacy to compete
with Trump in the fall.
One outside group trying to stop Trump
suggested it would shift its attention to helping Republicans in other
races. Rory Cooper, a senior adviser to the Never Trump super PAC, said
the group will help protect "Republican incumbents and down-ballot
candidates, by distinguishing their values and principles from that of
Trump, and protecting them from a wave election."
Only about half of Indiana's Republican
primary voters said they were excited or even optimistic about any of
their remaining candidates becoming president, according to exit polls.
Still, most said they probably would support whoever won for the GOP.
Clinton, too, needs to win over Sanders'
enthusiastic supporters. The Vermont senator has cultivated a deeply
loyal following in particular among young people, a group Democrats
count on in the general election.
Sanders has conceded his strategy hinges on
persuading superdelegates to back him over the former secretary of
state. Superdelegates are Democratic Party insiders who can support the
candidate of their choice, regardless of how their states vote. And they
favor Clinton by a nearly 18-1 margin.
Exit polls showed about 7 in 10 Indiana
Democrats said they'd be excited or at least optimistic about either a
Clinton or Sanders presidency. Most said they would support either in
November.
The exit polls were conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.
A fall showdown between Clinton and Trump
would pit one of Democrats' most experienced political figures against a
first-time candidate who is deeply divisive within his own party. Cruz
and other Republicans have argued that Trump would be roundly defeated
in the general election, denying their party the White House for a third
straight term.
Trump has now won seven straight primary
contests and has 80 percent of the delegates needed to secure the GOP
nomination. With his victory in Indiana, Trump now has at least 1,041
delegates. Cruz has 565 and Ohio Gov. John Kasich has 152.
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Pace reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Stephen Ohlemacher contributed to this report from Washington.
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Follow Julie Pace and Scott Bauer on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and http://twitter.com/sbauerAP
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