Ted Cruz questioned John Kasich’s decision to stay in the presidential race Monday, openly speculating that Kasich may want to be Donald Trump’s vice president.
Cruz also definitively told Fox News that if Kasich were not in the race, he would be able to hit the 1,237 delegate benchmark to clinch the Republican nomination before the convention. The Texas senator’s declaration came not long before his scheduled address before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s policy conference.
“Either scenario is possible,” Cruz said regarding his chances of winning the nomination outright or at a contested convention. “I think we have a clear path to 1,237, and we are fighting hard. If John Kasich were not in the race, we would get to 1,237. It is possible. Kasich’s role is a spoiler.”
When FNC’s Bret Baier asked him why Kasich was staying in the race, Cruz said that he really didn’t have a good idea before bringing up the possibility of being on Trump’s general election ticket.
“I have no good explanation,” Cruz said. “Maybe he’s auditioning to be Donald Trump’s vice president. Every vote for Kasich is a vote for Donald Trump.”
“If Kasich were not in the race, I’d be very confident we’d get to 1,237,” Cruz said. “If he stays in the race, I think we still can, but it’s a more difficult path.”
