RNC Chair Reince Priebus speaks to the debate crowd before the CNBC Republican presidential debate in Boulder, Colorado, on Oct. 29, 2015.
Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus posted on social media that Donald Trump is now “the presumptive nominee” and “it’s time to unite” against Hillary Clinton. The statement was tweeted out only moments after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, the frontrunner’s closest rival, suspended his campaign after losing the Indiana Republican primary.
.@realDonaldTrump will be presumtive @GOP nominee, we all need to unite and focus on defeating @HillaryClinton #NeverClinton
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) May 4, 2016
will be presumtive @GOP nominee, we all need to unite and focus on defeating @HillaryClinton
The chairman didn’t wait for a statement by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who vowed to continue the fight and said Sen. Cruz “should be proud of his strong and disciplined campaign.” Gov. Kasich has no path to the nomination and only won his home state of Ohio. Worth noting, a poll released on Tuesday showed a significant majority of Ohio Republicans say the governor should drop out of the race.
Kasich’s campaign posted a note to his Facebook page claiming the loss in Indiana “would not alter” the governor’s plan.
“Tonight’s results are not going to alter Gov. Kasich’s campaign plans. Our strategy has been and continues to be one that involves winning the nomination at an open convention,” the note said. “The comments from Trump, on the verge of winning in Indiana, heighten the differences between Governor Kasich and his positive, inclusive approach and the disrespectful ramblings from Donald Trump. Gov. Kasich will remain in the race unless a candidate reaches 1,237 bound delegates before the Convention.”
