Cruz drops out, leaving Trump the Republican nomination

INDIANAPOLIS%2C+IN+-+MAY+03%3A+Republican+presidential+candidate%2C+Sen.+Ted+Cruz+%28R-TX%29+announces+the+suspension+of+his+campaign+as+wife+Heidi+Cruz+looks+on+during+an+election+night+watch+party+at+the+Crowne+Plaza+Downtown+Union+Station+on+May+3%2C+2016+in+Indianapolis%2C+Indiana.+Cruz+lost+the+Indiana+primary+to+Republican+rival+Donald+Trump.+%28Photo+by+Joe+Raedle%2FGetty+Images%29

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 03: Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) announces the suspension of his campaign as wife Heidi Cruz looks on during an election night watch party at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Union Station on May 3, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Cruz lost the Indiana primary to Republican rival Donald Trump. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

After a defeat in Indiana, Ted Cruz decided to end his race to the white house, leaving Donald Trump the next likely candidate for the nomination. Even though Trump has yet to secure his needed 1,237 delegates, with Cruz gone, there is really nothing left to block his victory.

Cruz made great efforts trying to pull off a win in Indiana, including naming Carly Fiorina as his running mate, which is something candidates tend to do after they have snagged the nomination. He also tried working with John Kasich with an agreement saying Cruz would work to win Indiana as Kasich reaches to later states. However, these advancements proved unproductive for Cruz. In a speech after his loss in Indiana, Cruz announces his decision “We left it all on the field in Indiana. We gave it everything we’ve got but the voters chose another path, so with a heavy heart but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign.”

Reince Priebus, the National Republican Committee chairman, tweeted as follow up to Cruz’s speech saying “Trump will be [the] presumptive GOP nominee.” He continued on to encourage the party to focus on beating Hillary Clinton.FullSizeRender (1)

In a speech reacting to Cruz’s decision, Trump names Cruz “a tough and smart guy” and states he was hard competition. “He has an amazing future and I want to congratulate him,” Trump said.

Trump then addresses the Clinton saying she “will not be a good president, she will not be a great president, she will be a poor president” and she doesn’t understand trade. “Her husband signed perhaps, in the history of the world, the single worst trade deal ever done. It’s call NAFTA. I have witnessed first hand what it has done and it is complete carnage,” Trump said.

Clinton responded to Trump’s win Indiana saying this against him will be personal and messy. According to CNN, Clinton’s strategy is to focus on campaigning “in every state left on the primary calendar.”

As of now, Kasich says he will remain in the race “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,” John Weaver, Kasich’s chief strategist, said.