An influential group of conservative leaders who oppose Donald Trump applauded the Republican presidential front-runner’s rivals on Tuesday for working together to keep Trump from securing the nomination.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich agreed on Sunday to campaign in separate states over the next few weeks so as not to split the anti-Trump vote and hand the billionaire additional victories. Cruz plans to campaign heavily in Indiana, where he currently trails Trump by single digits, while Kasich will hit the trail in New Mexico and Oregon.
“Cruz and Kasich have stood up for responsible, right-of-center governance — and for the will of the 65 percent of the Republican electorate that so far has voted against the billionaire inheritor,” read a statement released Tuesday by the group of individuals who call themselves Conservatives Against Trump.
“As this contest proceeds, it remains clear that Trump has an uphill battle to earn votes from 1,237 convention delegates — a simple majority — despite the rules frequently working in his favor,” the statement continued.
“The Cruz-Kasich agreement effectively sets up a series of head-to-head primary match-ups. If Trump cannot win against a single other candidate, head-to-head, he has no legitimate claim to the nomination,” the group claimed.
All three Republican hopefuls will compete in five state’s primaries on Tuesday, of which Trump is expected to win most if not all.
