Following a crushing defeat in Indiana primary to Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz announced the suspension of his campaign. His decision paves the way for Donald Trump to be a presumptive nominee for Republican presidential candidate.
According to CNN, it was a remarkable turn of events in a presidential primary race. Previously, Cruz insisted to stay in the race until June 7 to oust Trump from presidential candidacy. However, voters decided differently in Indiana.
"We left it all on the field in Indiana. We gave it everything we've got but the voters chose another path," Ted Cruz said. "So with a heavy heart but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign."
Cruz is a favorite for Republican tea party, and the conservative hoped to consolidate both evangelical and libertarian wings of the Republican Party to win the nomination. All that plan failed, as Tuesday's night exit polls showed that evangelical voters in Indiana split evenly between Cruz and Trump. The former lawyer gained some votes from late deciders that made up a quarter of voters, but that was not even enough to close a very wide gap.
This loss is a humiliating defeat for Cruz because he has been sucking up to Trump in the first six month of his campaign. Ted Cruz called the real estate mogul terrific, brash and speaks the truth. Later on, according to Business Insider, that was only part of a cynical strategy to ingratiate himself with Trump's supporters and hoping them to shift to him.
After his strategy had failed, he unleashed his anger on Donald Trump, who said Cruz's father was somewhat connected to JFK's murder. He said in a press conference, "This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies, practically every word that comes out of his mouth."
New York Times wrote that the biggest problems for Cruz are the nakedness of his vanity and transparency of his ambition. He routinely excoriated other politicians for self-centeredness while repeatedly hogging center stage. His running mate, Carly Fiorina, once mentioned that Cruz would say anything he needed to say in order to get elected.
After winning the Indiana primary, Donald Trump moved an inch closer to secure 1,237 delegates he needs to win the presidential nomination in June. As for now, his path is cleared, making him the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
Ted Cruz faced a crushing defeat in Indiana primary to Donald Trump on Thursday. Following his defeat, the Texas senator announced to suspend his campaign.
