Trump to Kasich: Drop out of race; You're taking my votes

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE

Donald Trump on Sunday called for John Kasich to drop out of the Republican presidential race, arguing that the Ohio governor who's only won his home state so far shouldn't be allowed to continue accumulating delegates if he has no chance of being the nominee.

Working to recover his edge after a difficult week, Trump said Kasich could ask to be considered at the GOP convention in Cleveland in July even without competing in the remaining nominating contests. Trump told reporters at a Milwaukee diner that he had relayed his concerns to Republican National Committee officials at a meeting in Washington this past week.

"He's taking my votes," Trump said about Kasich.

Kasich's campaign tried to flip the script, contending that neither Trump nor Texas Sen. Ted Cruz would have enough delegates to win the nomination outright going into the convention.

"Since he thinks it's such a good idea, we look forward to Trump dropping out before the convention," said Kasich spokesman Chris Schrimpf.

And Kasich, in an earlier interview with ABC's "This Week," said he expected an "open convention" and that delegates would look to him, with experience in Congress and the state level. "That's why I think I'm going to be the nominee."

Trump's declaration, two days before Wisconsin's closely watched primary, came as Republican concerns grew about the prospect of convention chaos if Trump fails to lock up his party's nomination — or even if he does.

Behind Cruz in the polls in Wisconsin, Trump faces the prospect that a loss Tuesday will raise further doubts that he can net the needed delegates, making it far easier for his party to oust him in a floor fight at the July convention.

Cruz, Trump's closest challenger, has only a small chance to overtake him in the delegate hunt before the convention. Kasich has none.

Kasich has acknowledged that a contested convention is his only path to victory. He has faced calls in the past to bow out, but those nudges had dimmed following his decisive victory last month in his home state.

Still, Kasich suggested that a contested convention would not involve the chaos that party leaders fear. He told ABC that a contested convention will be "so much fun."