GOP’s Cruz wins Kansas, Maine; Sanders captures Kan., Neb.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas waves to the crowd at the GOP caucus in Wichita, Kan., Saturday, March 5, 2016.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at a town hall meeting at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church today in Cleveland.
WICHITA, Kan. » Ted Cruz cinched double-barreled victories in Kansas and Maine, and battled Donald Trump for Kentucky in today’s four-state round of Republican voting, fresh evidence that there’s no quick end in sight to the fractious GOP race for president. Bernie Sanders notched a win over Hillary Clinton in Nebraska and state party officials gave him a victory over the Democratic front-runner in Kansas.
“God bless Kansas,” Cruz declared during a rally in Idaho, which votes in three days. “The scream you hear, the howl that comes from Washington D.C., is utter terror at what we the people are doing together.”
The Texas senator defeated Trump by more than a 2-to-1 margin in Kansas, and early returns showed he and Trump were in a tight races for Kentucky. Cruz, a tea party favorite, attributed his strong showing to conservatives coalescing behind his candidacy, calling it a “manifestation of a real shift in momentum.”
With the GOP race in chaos, establishment figures frantically are looking for any way to derail Trump, perhaps at a contested convention if no candidate can get enough delegates to lock up the nomination in advance. Party leaders — including 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and 2008 nominee Sen. John McCain — are fearful a Trump victory would lead to a disastrous November election, with losses up and down the GOP ticket.
“Everyone’s trying to figure out how to stop Trump,” the billionaire marveled at an afternoon rally in Orlando, Florida, where he had supporters raise their hands and swear to vote for him.
Despite the support of many elected officials in Kansas, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio came up short, raising serious questions about his viability in the race. Cruz suggested it was time for some Republican candidates to quit the race.
In Maine, Cruz won by a comfortable margin over Trump. Republicans and Democrats also were voting in Louisiana on Saturday.
On the Democratic side, meanwhile, Sanders won by a solid margin in Nebraska and Kansas officials said he’d won the state caucuses, giving him seven victories so far in the nominating season.
With Republican front-runner Trump yet to win states by the margins he’ll need in order to secure the nomination before the GOP convention, every one of the 155 GOP delegates at stake on Saturday was worth fighting for.
Count Wichita’s Barb Berry among those who propelled Cruz to victory in Kansas, where GOP officials reported extremely high turnout. It was Cruz’ fifth win of the nominating race. Cruz had won Alaska, Oklahoma, Iowa and his home state of Texas.
“I believe that he is a true fighter for conservatives,” said Berry, a 67-year-old retired AT&T manager. As for Trump, Berry said, “he is a little too narcissistic.”
It was anger that propelled many of Trump’s voters to the polls.
“It’s my opportunity to revolt,” said Betty Nixon, a 60-year-old Trump voter in Olathe, Kansas. She said she liked the businessman because “he’s not bought and paid for.”
Overall, Trump had prevailed in 10 of 15 contests heading into Saturday’s voting. Rubio had one win in Minnesota.
Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich both pinned their hopes on winner-take-all contests on March 15 in their home states.
On the Democratic side, Clinton hoped that strong support among African-Americans in Louisiana would propel her to victory. Vermonter Sanders, trailing far behind Clinton in the delegate count, had higher hopes of making progress in Nebraska and Kansas, where the Democratic electorate is less diverse.
Tara Evans, a 52-year-old quilt maker from Bellevue, Nebraska, said she was caucusing for Clinton, and happy to know that the former first lady could bring her husband back to the White House.
“I like Bernie, but I think Hillary had the best chance of winning,” she said.
Heading into Saturday’s voting, Clinton had 1,066 delegates to Sanders’ 432, including superdelegates — members of Congress, governors and party officials who can support the candidate of their choice. It takes 2,383 delegates to win the Democratic nomination. There were 109 at stake on Saturday.
Clinton and Sanders both campaigned in Michigan, a sign of the importance both attach to the state’s primary on Tuesday.
Clinton met with about 20 African-American ministers in Detroit and said “the future” of the Supreme Court was on the ballot in November’s general election.
Sanders, at a rally in suburban Warren, stressed his opposition to “disastrous” trade agreements that he said cost U.S. jobs. He’s hoping his emphasis on reducing income inequality plays well in a state hit hard over the years by shifting economic trends and globalization.
In the overall race for GOP delegates, including partial results for Kansas, Trump led with 347 and Cruz had 267. Rubio had 116 delegates and Kasich had 28.
Cruz will collect at least 36 delegates for winning the Republican caucuses in Kansas and Maine, Trump at least 18 and Rubio at least six and Kasich three.
It takes 1,237 delegates to win the Republican nomination for president.
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Benac reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Bill Barrow in Jacksonville, Florida; David Eggert in Warren, Michigan; Catherine Lucey in Detroit; Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; John Hanna in Olathe, Kansas, and John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, contributed to this report.
40 responses to “GOP’s Cruz wins Kansas, Maine; Sanders captures Kan., Neb.”
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I’m for Trump. #Kaaihue4Mayor #TakeBackHawaii
Me too! But probably for a different reason. It’s because Trump is so “malleable” as some writers describe him. Ever try to bend a copper wire, real easy because it’s malleable. But try that on hardened steel like Cruz is, impossible. Trump, if he is nominated and becomes president, will change from his original stances as he is doing now. Flip flop? Nah, just reconsidering.
Agree, flexibility is not stupidity. If you notice that you are wrong on something correct your view and you will not lead us deeper into trouble like religionist blockhead Cruz would.
if nothing else it’s been really entertaining to watch the republican establishment realize their worse fears and extent of voter discontent with them.
The fact that Trump is not bought and paid for is the most attractive thing about him.
I’m for Trump. HE is the only one honest enough to declare bankruptcy when the debt cannot be repaid – which makes him uniquely qualified to deal with the crushing national debt.
Trump says he wants FREE trade for the USA. I wonder if that will include HI, AK and PR?????
Cruz looks like a real dork and acts like one too. He insists on lying even though media says he is wrong. In other words, he is making up his own facts even though the true facts have been pointed out in the media. Who would trust Cruz to run this nation particularly in an emergency? And I’m getting tired of all the dumb rubio dumb tv promotions.
People who have known him earlier in his life use the word “creep” alot.
JMV371, and yet Ted Cruz may end up the GOP Presidential candidate at the end of the primary process. Then we have the Real Dork v. the Most Transparent. A very interesting Presidential election. I do Trust Ted Cruz. Do you trust Hillary Clinton?
Why would you vote for a Canadian for president? Amazing that he thinks he can ignore the constitution. But its ok if you are republican. Disgusting.
A lot better then a Kenyan.
Sorry sarge, I am not aware of any Kenyan running for president. You need to keep up. Obama is an American, born in the United States. Yes Hawaii was a full state at the time of his birth.
Peter, President Obama is an American of Kenyan ancestry born in Hawaii, just as Senator Ted Cruz, an American of Hispanic ancestry whose mother was American and he was born in Canada. Both are Americans, period.
kuroiwaj: Unfortunately for Mr. Cruz, the Constitution doesn’t just say someone needs to be an American to serve as President. Cruz is lying when he says (over and over again) that the settled law says he can serve. There is no settled law, and the consensus of legal scholars is there there is either a question about his eligibility, or that he’s flatly not eligible.
it is a stupid law that says foreign born cannot become president
Cruz is a zero but his hatred for American is scary. He closed the government and it cost tax payers billions. He is a scary ideologue and incompetent.
Allie, Ted Cruz is a man of his word (a campaign promise) and principled. He caused the shut the government down because President Obama, the Democrats, and undisciplined Republicans worked their deals against us, Americans. Ted Cruz stood for us as he stood for us before the U.S. Supreme Court and won for Americans.
Ted is not qualified to be president. Lets see the paper that had to be filed if Ted was to be an American citizen.
With friends like Ted, who needs enemies. lol
Well, what do you expect from a Cuban anchor baby in Canada. lol
Just another racist comment from Bootsie. Get over it.
lol, isn’t turn about fun sarge? I had to listen to all that bull about Obama and now you republicans are seriously considering a Cuban anchor baby born in Canada. A bit Ironic don’t you think? I think it is funny as hell and there is a chance that the SC would rule against your hero. But it is so appropriate that republicans would now consider him as its ok if you are republican.
Anyone but Hillary.
Not a Hillary supporter but sure would prefer her over any of the republicans running. Anyway Hillary is going to lose to Bernie so you won’t have to pick Hilary.
She’ll get indicted opening the doors for Biden to get the nomination.
Saw the headline and thought, “who cares?”…
You should care. The article is dealing with the possible next president. Such an attitude is why this country is sinking.
Dude you are out of touch. The Pope has a better chance of turning muslim than this guy does at becoming President. Have you listened to him? He will never become President.
Ted Cruz is gaining momentum and it is beginning to scare his competition. If you want a president who will defend the Constitution and not try to interpret it to his advantage, then Cruz is your man. Cruz has invited all the haters to challenge his right to run, for some their racism is loud and clear, but the truth is that Cruz is much more knowledgeable about the Constitution than the people criticizing him.
lol, if he read the strict constitution, he would know that he does not qualify to be president. We don’t need a Canadian Cuban anchor baby polluting our constitution.
Cruz is lying when he says that settled law agrees with the premise that he’s qualified to be President. There is no settled law of any kind that agrees with Cruz. None. The entirety of the evidence and opinion is that either his candidacy is a question mark or that he’s unqualified outright.
amazing to see democrat voters proving gruber right by supporting a congenital liar obsessed with becoming the first female felon to run for president.
Congratulations! You continue with your unbroken streak of being wrong about the law.
a felon is one who has committed a felony or many felonies.
a convicted felon is one who has been convicted of a felony.
hiliar is a felon.
Just once, if only for the sake of variety, it would be good if wrote something truthful. Maybe pick one day this week for that?
nixon’s beard is entangling hiliar’s campaign as the fbi felony investigation into her nda continues and spreads to her senior advisors.
as predicted, the first hiliar coconspirator has secured immunity. it’s only a matter of time before another coconspirator decides to turn state’s evidence to protect their self interest.
pagliano should avail himself of protective custody to avoid the “clinton suicide syndrome” that plagued past whistleblowers of clinton scandals.
Cruz. Bugger eater. Oh My!
I think that we are seeing the death of both conservatives and the establishment Republicans. Trump cancelled his appearance at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual meeting leaving them with no headliner. What we are seeing is populist candidates like Trump and Saunders looking out not for the rich, Wall Street, and trickle down theory for everyone else. Trump and Saunders have both said they will take on big business to bring production and jobs back to the United States, increase the minimum wage, and improve conditions for the lower 30 percent who have gone nowhere while prosperity has risen over the last 15 years. Trump and Saunders both want the Federal Government to cut deals with the pharmaceutical industry, hostipials, and care providers to cut costs to make care affordable.
Temp–yes, they both want to take on the big guys. One thing I haven’t seen is anything about Clinton’s son-in-law who’s a hedge fund manager—and the son of an ex-con Congressman.
The husband of Mrs. Clinton’s daughter, and his father, mean something to you? You certainly have a lot of free time to think about drivel.
It means they are all crooks. Wake up.