Donald Trump aims to seal GOP nomination with Indiana primary win

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, Indiana votes in the Democratic and Republican primaries, but the main drama is between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. Campaigning in Indianapolis on Monday, Trump said that if he wins, as recent polls suggest he will, Cruz should drop out. "Indiana is very important, because if I win that's the end of it," he said. "It would be over." Cruz, also in Indiana, vowed to stay in the race, but appeared to leave a little wiggle room for an exit. "I am in for the distance, as long as we have a viable path to victory," he told reporters. Indiana has 57 GOP delegates at stake.

Trump has been helped in Indiana by his focus on trade, especially on Carrier moving its Indianapolis air conditioner factory to Mexico; his sports celebrity endorsements; and a growing air of inevitability after having won the last six contests, The Washington Post says. "You cannot underestimate the impact that Trump winning all counties last week in the 'Acela primary' had on Indiana," veteran GOP strategist Scott Reed tells The Post. "A month ago, Cruz was leading Trump by 20 percent in Indiana. Trump's wins, coupled with landing his plane in state, have driven voters into his column."

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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.