Ted Cruz Wins Idaho, Trump Wins Hawaii

From the Los Angeles Times:

Michigan was the day’s big prize, not only because it offered the largest number of delegates, 59, but because it presented the first test of the candidates’ appeal in the industrial Midwest, a traditional fall battleground.

If nominated, Trump hopes his protectionist talk could win over blue-collar workers skeptical of foreign trade deals and put several traditionally Democratic-leaning states into play.

Trump’s victories amounted to a bounce-back of sorts. He won primaries Saturday in Kentucky and Louisiana, but the contests were much closer than expected, perhaps because the voting was limited to registered Republicans.

Trump had been buoyed throughout the primary season by the crossover support of Democrats and independents allowed to vote in GOP caucuses and primaries; Mississippi and Michigan both held open primaries.

Cruz posted two victories over the weekend, in Kansas and Maine, elevating his effort to emerge as Trump’s main challenger. Tuesday’s results in Mississippi in particular marked a setback, though Idaho offered some consolation.

A candidate needs 1,237 delegates to clinch the GOP nomination ahead of the party convention in July. After winning 12 of the first 20 contests, Trump started out Tuesday with 382 delegates, a number he padded with his victories. Cruz had 300, Rubio barely half that number, and Kasich fewer than 40.

Next week’s primaries offer 387 GOP delegates in five states: Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, North Carolina and Florida.