Cruz gets a boost, but can he catch Trump?

Associated Press

WAUWATOSA, WIS.

While Ted Cruz decried “gutter politics” against him, former Republican presidential contenders gave him a boost Wednesday, casting the Texas senator as the party’s last best chance to stop Donald Trump. The long and bitter 2016 campaign shifted to a new Midwestern battleground.

Ahead of Wisconsin’s April 5 primary, Gov. Scott Walker, who dropped out of the race last fall, declared that only Cruz can catch Trump as time runs short in the primary season.

And former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush gave Cruz his endorsement – a step perhaps designed to hurt Trump more than help the unpopular Texas senator.

“For the sake of our party and country, we must move to overcome the divisiveness and vulgarity Donald Trump has brought into the political arena,” said Bush, who was knocked out of the 2016 contest last month. “To win, Republicans need to make this election about proposing solutions to the many challenges we face, and I believe that we should vote for Ted as he will do just that.”

Indeed, as Democrat Hillary Clinton addressed rising national security concerns, the Republican contest was hit again by personal insults – this time involving the candidates’ families. Cruz slammed Trump during an appearance in the front-runner’s hometown for making a vague threat on Twitter the night before to “spill the beans” on Cruz’s wife.

“Gutter politics,” Cruz said. The Republican infighting came the day after Cruz scored a win in Utah and Trump claimed Arizona.

Meanwhile, Ohio Gov. John Kasich says there is “zero chance” he will drop out of the race before Wisconsin’s primary April 5.

Kasich told voters during a campaign stop Wednesday outside Milwaukee that he’s not dropping out of the race and he’s “going to be nobody’s vice president.”

A frustrated Cruz charged Kasich with playing “spoiler” by taking votes that could have gone to him. And in an interview, Cruz suggested that the Ohio governor’s political future could benefit from a speedy exit: “I think he’d be a tremendous addition to an administration,” Cruz said on CNN’s “New Day.”