Donald Trump calls Cruz-Kasich deal a sign of desperation

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called a deal by rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich to campaign strategically in different states in order to prevent him from securing enough delegates to secure the Republican nomination, a sign of “desperation” and “weakness” on Twitter on Monday (April 25).

Cruz and John Kasich announced a deal on Sunday (April 24) to stay out of each other’s way in some upcoming state primaries in hopes of blocking front-runner Donald Trump from winning the party’s presidential nomination.

“Our focus right now is very simply on unity, on bringing this party together, on uniting the party. If we continue to unite the party, we will win the nomination. If we continue to unite the country, we will win the general election, we will beat Hillary Clinton and we will turn the country around,” Cruz said during a campaign stop in Evansville, Indiana on Sunday (April 24).

Cruz’s campaign said in a statement he would focus on the Indiana and give Kasich a clearer shot in Oregon and New Mexico, states where the Ohio governor expects to do well. Kasich, in turn, agreed to shift resources west and away from Indiana.

The Indiana primary is on May 3, Oregon’s is May 17 and New Mexico’s June 7.

Trump has won the most state nominating contests, but he has a tough path to earn the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination. The Cruz and Kasich campaigns believe their agreement to cede states where the other candidate appears strong could help limit Trump‘s ability to win more delegates.

Some Republican strategists who oppose Trump have been calling for such a deal for weeks. The question for Cruz and Kasich is whether their agreement is too late.

Trump has frequently complained that the Republican Party’s nominating process is “rigged” against him because establishment party members oppose him. Party officials argue that the delegate selection rules have been known for some time.