Donald Trump and Ted Cruz battle for delegates at RNC meeting in Florida

The Republican National Committee began holding its three-day spring meeting at a seaside resort in Hollywood, Florida, on Wednesday, and the Ted Cruz and Donald Trump campaigns are there courting Republican officials, especially in states that haven't voted yet. Cruz himself met with RNC members, telling reporters that even after his loss in New York, "what's clear today is that we are headed to a contested convention." If Trump doesn't win on the first ballot in Cleveland, "I believe we will have a tremendous advantage in that battle," Cruz said.
Trump was campaigning in Indiana on Wednesday, decrying the RNC's "rigged, crooked system," but his new political director, Rick Wiley, was at the luxury Florida resort holding private meetings with GOP officials. Other top aides will make Trump's case to RNC officials on Thursday. Cruz and Gov. John Kasich can no longer win the Republican nomination outright, so they are working to stop Trump from getting a majority of delegates.
Trump, after losing several state delegate fights with Cruz, has beefed up his staff with veteran campaign consultants, and he says he is going to start using a teleprompter for some speeches and, for the first time, hire a speechwriter. "The campaign is evolving and transitioning, and so am I," Trump told The Wall Street Journal. "I'll be more effective and more disciplined," he added. "I'm not going to blow it." But while he's hiring someone to write his speeches, "I'm still the same candidate," Trump told The Journal. "Can you imagine how upset my supporters would be after waiting for hours?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
How Canadian tariffs could impact tourism to the US
In the Spotlight Canadians represent the largest group of foreign visitors to the United States. But they may soon stop visiting.
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Entitlements: DOGE goes after Social Security
Feature Elon Musk is pushing false claims about Social Security fraud
By The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Amazon Bond
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Rep. Sylvester Turner dies, weeks after joining House
Speed Read The former Houston mayor and longtime state legislator left behind a final message for Trump: 'Don't mess with Medicaid'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses Ukraine intelligence sharing
Speed Read The decision is intended to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into peace negotiations with Vladimir Putin
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rules against Trump on aid freeze
Speed Read The court rejected the president's request to freeze nearly $2 billion in payments for foreign humanitarian work
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump touts early wins in partisan speech to Congress
Speed Read The president said he is 'just getting started' with his sweeping changes to immigration, the economy and foreign policy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade war
Speed Read Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after public spat
Speed Read Trump and J.D. Vance berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what they saw as insufficient gratitude
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's Mexico and Canada tariffs begin, roiling markets
Speed Read Stocks plunged after Trump affirmed that the tariffs would take effect, sparking a likely trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Judge tells White House to stop ordering mass firings
speed read The ruling is a complication in the Trump administration's plans to slash the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published