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| US election: Cruz-Kasich pact 'desperate' says Trump | US election: Cruz-Kasich pact 'desperate' says Trump |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Donald Trump says a pact formed by his two rivals for the Republican presidential crown is a desperate act. | Donald Trump says a pact formed by his two rivals for the Republican presidential crown is a desperate act. |
| He lambasted Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich over the alliance they announced late on Sunday. | He lambasted Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich over the alliance they announced late on Sunday. |
| Under their plan, Mr Cruz and Mr Kasich will give each other a free run in state primary votes next month. | Under their plan, Mr Cruz and Mr Kasich will give each other a free run in state primary votes next month. |
| Before then, five US states go to the polls on Tuesday, when Mr Trump is expected to tighten his grip on the nomination. | Before then, five US states go to the polls on Tuesday, when Mr Trump is expected to tighten his grip on the nomination. |
| He has a clear lead in party delegates but may still fall short of the 1,237 needed to win outright. | He has a clear lead in party delegates but may still fall short of the 1,237 needed to win outright. |
| If he does not reach that figure, the vote will go to a contested convention - where delegates are free to back another candidate. A different nominee like Mr Cruz or Mr Kasich may emerge. | If he does not reach that figure, the vote will go to a contested convention - where delegates are free to back another candidate. A different nominee like Mr Cruz or Mr Kasich may emerge. |
| On Monday, Mr Cruz defended the deal, saying it was "great for Indiana and great for the country". | On Monday, Mr Cruz defended the deal, saying it was "great for Indiana and great for the country". |
| Can the pact work? - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington | Can the pact work? - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington |
| This announcement comes just days before Mr Cruz and Mr Kasich are likely to receive a thorough drubbing in a handful of states in the mid-Atlantic, including delegate-rich Pennsylvania. | This announcement comes just days before Mr Cruz and Mr Kasich are likely to receive a thorough drubbing in a handful of states in the mid-Atlantic, including delegate-rich Pennsylvania. |
| By Wednesday morning Mr Trump could have put considerably more distance between himself and his two opponents. | By Wednesday morning Mr Trump could have put considerably more distance between himself and his two opponents. |
| So this accord may be an early effort to push the focus past the next round of voting and on to more friendly contests. | So this accord may be an early effort to push the focus past the next round of voting and on to more friendly contests. |
| Indiana is shaping up to be a pivotal battleground. A recent poll shows Mr Trump with a comfortable lead in a three-way race that narrows considerably if Mr Kasich is taken out of the equation. | Indiana is shaping up to be a pivotal battleground. A recent poll shows Mr Trump with a comfortable lead in a three-way race that narrows considerably if Mr Kasich is taken out of the equation. |
| Given the rules in Indiana - 30 delegates to the candidate who wins a statewide plurality and three delegates to the top finisher in each of the state's nine congressional districts - every bit of help Mr Cruz can get to edge past Mr Trump will be invaluable. | Given the rules in Indiana - 30 delegates to the candidate who wins a statewide plurality and three delegates to the top finisher in each of the state's nine congressional districts - every bit of help Mr Cruz can get to edge past Mr Trump will be invaluable. |
| Read Anthony's piece in full | Read Anthony's piece in full |
| Speaking in Indiana, the Texas senator said Mr Trump winning the nomination would hand the White House to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in November's election. | Speaking in Indiana, the Texas senator said Mr Trump winning the nomination would hand the White House to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in November's election. |
| But in a series of tweets on Monday, Mr Trump, a New York businessman with no experience of elected office, said this was collusion from two weak candidates. | But in a series of tweets on Monday, Mr Trump, a New York businessman with no experience of elected office, said this was collusion from two weak candidates. |
| And in a statement, he said: "It is sad that two grown politicians have to collude against one person who has only been a politician for ten months in order to try and stop that person from getting the Republican nomination." | And in a statement, he said: "It is sad that two grown politicians have to collude against one person who has only been a politician for ten months in order to try and stop that person from getting the Republican nomination." |
| Mr Trump has waged war on the Republican National Committee over the process by which delegates are allocated, saying the system is "rigged" against him. | Mr Trump has waged war on the Republican National Committee over the process by which delegates are allocated, saying the system is "rigged" against him. |
| Read more on the US election | |
| Can Trump really change his image? | |
| Trump v Cruz v Kasich | |
| Ted Cruz, the Texan Tea Partier | |
| John Kasich, the governor of positivity | |
| Five states go to the polls on Tuesday - Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. | Five states go to the polls on Tuesday - Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. |
| Under the Cruz-Kasich plan, Mr Cruz will cut campaigning in the Oregon and New Mexico primaries and Mr Kasich will give Mr Cruz a "clear path" in Indiana. | Under the Cruz-Kasich plan, Mr Cruz will cut campaigning in the Oregon and New Mexico primaries and Mr Kasich will give Mr Cruz a "clear path" in Indiana. |
| Indiana and Oregon vote next month, with New Mexico to follow in June. | Indiana and Oregon vote next month, with New Mexico to follow in June. |
| In the Democratic race, Mrs Clinton will be looking to tighten her grip on the nomination after her big New York win, but Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders says he still has a path to victory. | In the Democratic race, Mrs Clinton will be looking to tighten her grip on the nomination after her big New York win, but Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders says he still has a path to victory. |