After Cruz’s win in Wisconsin, the Republican field looks like it’s gearing up for a contested convention.
Donald Trump’s impending demise has been floated around nearly every week since last summer. Even though that’s proved untrue every time so far, many are saying that this is, truly, the beginning of the end for Trump.
Ted Cruz pummeled the Republican frontrunner in Wisconsin’s April 5 primary, beating him by a 48 to 35 percent margin. The loss deals a significant blow to Trump’s chances of winning the presidential nomination outright and increases the chance for a contested convention in July.
SEE HOW THE LATEST CAMPAIGN NEWS AFFECTS YOUR SMALL BUSINESS.
Cruz gained 36 delegates from the contest while Trump added only six. But Trump still leads Cruz in the overall delegate count, 746 to 510, according to CNN. If Trump is to secure the 1,237 delegates he needs to win outright before the convention, he’ll need to rebound from what many are calling one of the worst weeks of his campaign.
Trump’s Rough Week
The real estate mogul’s political armor cracked after he faced harsh criticism for his comments that, if abortion were illegal, women who obtain them should be punished. He later backed off that stance and clarified his comments, but the damage was done.
His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was also arrested and charged with simple battery of former Breitbart reporter Michele Fields. The combination has created a lot of negative attention for Trump’s campaign, potentially affecting his Wisconsin performance, The Economist reported.
Exit polls also showed that Cruz tied Trump in demographics that the real estate mogul usually dominates, such as among voters with a high school diploma or less. Perhaps the most telling statistic: Four in 10 Wisconsin Republican voters said they were “scared” of a Donald Trump presidency, according to The Washington Post.
Cruz on Small Business Issues
Cruz said his victory in Wisconsin was a turning point in the nominating contest, and he highlighted a slew of recent primary victories as a sign that he’s picking up momentum. In his victory speech, Cruz also touted his mission to lift up small businesses by repealing Obamacare, instituting a flat tax and “reining in federal regulators that are killing small businesses.”
“We will unleash incredible economic growth,” Cruz said.
Trump is looking to re-establish his authority as the frontrunner in the April 19 New York primary. He currently has a commanding lead in the polls, capturing 52 percent of prospective voters. Ohio Gov. John Kasich comes in a distant second at 25 percent, according to a Monmouth University survey.
*Note: This news coverage does not equate to an endorsement of any candidate by NFIB.
Photo credit: Gage Skidmore
