Indianpolis: Once dismissed as a fringe contender, businessman Donald Trump now is all but certain to lead the Republican Party into the fall presidential campaign against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton — a stunning political triumph for a first-time candidate whose appeal to frustrated voters was widely underestimated.
Mr Trump’s victory in Indiana on Tuesday and Mr Ted Cruz’s abrupt decision to drop out resolved the issue of the Republican nominee for 2016, but it still left the party in a deep state of uncertainty. Some Republican leaders remain acutely wary of the bombastic billionaire and have insisted they could never support him, even in a face-off against Ms Clinton.
Mr Trump still needs about 200 delegates to formally secure the nomination, but Mr Cruz’s decision to end his campaign removed his last major obstacle. Mr Trump, in a victory speech that was much lower-key than usual, promised victory in November, vowing anew to put “America first.”
The campaign of Republican Gov. John Kasich, who has won only in his home state of Ohio, said in a Facebook post: “Tonight’s results are not going to alter Gov. Kasich’s campaign plans.”
However, sources said that he too would be qutting, giving Mr Trump a clear path to his party’s nomination. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders eked out a victory over Ms Clinton in Indiana, but the outcome will not slow the former secretary of state’s march to the Democratic nomination. Heading into Tuesday’s voting, Ms Clinton had 92 per cent of the delegates she needs.
