Indiana Governor Mike Pence has backed Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, four days before the state’s GOP primary.
Campaigning on April 29, Ted Cruz praised the governor, saying he would enthusiastically welcome his support.
Indiana’s primary on May 3 is Ted Cruz’s best chance to stem the momentum of Republican front-runner Donald Trump.
Donald Trump has won a string of states, taking him closer to being the nominee.
However, if Donald Trump does not win 1,237 delegates, there will be a contested Republican convention in July.
This would mean the delegates – local party activists and senior GOP officials – being free to pick an alternative candidate like Ted Cruz or the third candidate John Kasich.
It has been an eventful week for Ted Cruz, taking a beating in five state primaries, picking Carly Fiorina as his running mate and then being called “Lucifer” by ex-House Speaker John Boehner.
Governor Mike Pence made his announcement on radio on April 29, saying the Texas senator was the best conservative among “three good men”.
Ted Cruz has named Carly Fiorina as his running mate, in the event he becomes the GOP nominee at a campaign event in Indianapolis on April 27.
He called Carly Fiorina a “consistent, courageous fighter”.
The former presidential candidate is the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard.
Carly Fiorina dropped out of the presidential race after a poor showing at the New Hampshire primary.
She has been an active supporter for Texas Senator Ted Cruz on the campaign trail.
The early announcement is unusual because vice-presidential picks are not normally decided until after a candidate secures the nomination.
Photo AP
“Over and over again, Carly has shattered glass ceilings,” Ted Cruz said.
Carly Fiorina could help Ted Cruz in his battle against front-runner Donald Trump, who has made disparaging comments about women – including her.
“Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?” he said.
Carly Fiorina responded: “I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said.”
Ted Cruz alluded to this exchange in introducing Carly Fiorina in Indiana, saying she handled it with “grace and class”.
While at Hewlett-Packard, Carly Fiorina laid off 30,000 people and was fired by the company’s board, though she has argued that her leadership “saved” the company.
Carly Fiorina also had a failed bid for a California Senate seat.
Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump called the move desperate.
While addressing the crowd, Carly Fiorina broke into song.
She sang about Ted Cruz’s daughters and their times together on the Cruz campaign bus.
“Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are two sides of the same coin,” Carly Fiorina said, and Ted Cruz’s presidential bid is not over yet, despite what “the media says”.
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has detailed his foreign policy just one day after winning in five primaries.
In a speech in Washington on April 27, Donald Trump said he would pursue an “America First” policy.
The New York businessman called the foreign policy of President Barack Obama’s administration “a complete and total disaster”.
On April 26, Donald Trump called himself the Republican “presumptive nominee” after his primary wins.
He claimed victories in Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Before the speech, Donald Trump promised it would not be a “Trump doctrine”, and that he would retain some flexibility to make changes if elected.
Photo Getty Images
Much of his speech focused on what he called the “weakness, confusion and disarray” of the Obama administration, and his hope of reversing it.
Before the audience in Washington, he vowed to “shake the rust off America’s foreign policy”.
Donald Trump said that, under his administration “their days are numbered – I won’t tell them when, and I won’t tell them how”.
He had previously said he would weaken ISIS by cutting off their access to oil, and supported waterboarding and other strong interrogation methods against them. He did not return to these proposals on today’s speech.
“Containing the spread of radical Islam must be a major foreign policy goal of the United States and indeed, the world,” Donald Trump said, adding that he would work closely with US allies in the Middle East to combat extremism.
He also said that new talks would be sought with the US’ allies in NATO to try and reshape the organization’s structure and discuss a “rebalancing” of US financing towards it.
Donald Trump said he would also aim to hold talks with Russia to seek common ground, possibly over Islamist extremism.
“Some say the Russians can’t be reasonable,” he said.
“I intend to find out.”
Donald Trump said China “respects strength, and by letting them take advantage of us economically like they are doing, we are losing all their respect”. He said he would seek to “fix our relations with China” but did not suggest how.
On US allies, he said: “The countries we defend must pay for the cost of this defense.
“If not, the US must be prepared to let these countries defend themselves. We have no choice.”
Speaking to the New York Times last month about the US-Japan relationship, Donald Trump said: “If we’re attacked, they do not have to come to our defense, if they’re attacked, we have to come totally to their defense. And that is a, that’s a real problem.”
Donald Trump once said he was his own best foreign policy adviser, but, in recent months, has expanded his backroom team. Some of his appointments have proved controversial.
His team is led by Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama.
Another member, retired Gen. Joseph Schmitz, resigned from the military in 2005 amid accusations of misconduct. However, Joseph Schmitz was never charged with wrongdoing.
Another adviser, Walid Phares, was criticized when he was named as part of Mitt Romney’s foreign policy team in 2011.
Muslim advocacy groups took issue with Walid Phares’s close ties to right-wing Christian militia groups during the Lebanese civil war.
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has won primaries in all five states that voted on April 26, while Democrat Hillary Clinton triumphed in four out of five.
Donald Trump called himself the Republican “presumptive nominee” after victories in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
The results bring the New York businessman closer to the number of delegates he needs before the party’s national convention in July.
For the Democrats, Hillary Clinton was denied a clean sweep by Bernie Sanders.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders won in Rhode Island and vowed to fight to the end of the primaries process.
Speaking at the Philadelphia Convention Center after securing the four other states, Hillary Clinton said her campaign was setting “bold, progressive goals” to improve lives in the US.
Photo Getty Images
“We believe in the goodness of our people and the greatness of our nation,” she said.
After his sweep of the five states, Donald Trump said of the battle for the Republican nomination: “It’s over. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”
He told supporters in New York he would not moderate his policies if elected president.
Donald Trump said: “You know I went to the best schools. I’m like a very smart person. I’m going to represent our country with dignity and very well.
“But I don’t really want to change my personality. You know, it got me here.”
After their victories, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton turned their fire on each other.
Donald Trump said his Democratic rival’s only advantage in the presidential race was being a woman.
“Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don’t think she’d get 5% of the vote,” he said.
Hillary Clinton hit back at his accusation that she was playing the “woman card”.
“Well, if fighting for women’s healthcare and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in,” she told cheering supporters in Philadelphia.
Donald Trump’s rivals, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, have already shifted their attention to forthcoming states.
As part of a new campaigning pact, John Kasich will give Ted Cruz a “clear path” to tackle Donald Trump in Indiana on May 3, with Cruz reciprocating for Kasich in the Oregon and New Mexico primaries.
Donald Trump has condemned their pact as a sign of weakness and desperation, and another sign of the GOP colluding against him.
Neither John Kasich nor Ted Cruz has a chance of securing the Republican nomination outright. The hope of a contested convention this July in Cleveland is keeping them in the race.
This scenario would see party delegates – Republican officials and activists – choose the nominee.
Analysts believe that Indiana, with its 57 delegates, will be crucial if Donald Trump’s rivals are to stop him securing the 1,237 he needs to win outright.
Opinion polls suggest Donald Trump has 39% support there, Ted Cruz 33% and John Kasich 19%.
Republican presidential hopefuls Ted Cruz and John Kasich have announced they will now co-ordinate strategies against rival Donald Trump.
Ted Cruz has said he will cut campaigning in the Oregon and New Mexico primaries to help John Kasich, while the latter will give Ted Cruz a “clear path” in Indiana.
Donald Trump responded to his rivals saying they were “totally desperate” and “mathematically dead”.
The New York businessman has a clear lead in delegates but may still fall short of the 1,237 needed to win outright.
If Donald Trump does not reach the target, the vote will go to a contested convention – where a different nominee may emerge through negotiations among party figures.
John Kasich and Ted Cruz announced their move in near-simultaneous statements.
Photo AP
Ted Cruz’s campaign manager, Jeff Roe, said: “Having Donald Trump at the top of the ticket in November would be a sure disaster for Republicans. Not only would Trump get blown out by [Hillary] Clinton or [Bernie] Sanders, but having him as our nominee would set the party back a generation.”
John Weaver, John Kasich’s strategist, said in a statement released on the candidate’s site: “Our goal is to have an open convention in Cleveland, where we are confident a candidate capable of uniting the party and winning in November will emerge as the nominee.”
Some Republican strategists have been urging this deal for weeks but analysts say it may now have come too late to stop Donald Trump.
In response, Donald Trump tweeted: “Wow, just announced that Lyin’ Ted and Kasich are going to collude in order to keep me from getting the Republican nomination. DESPERATION!
“Lyin’ Ted and Kasich are mathematically dead and totally desperate. Their donors & special interest groups are not happy with them. Sad!”
Donald Trump has frequently said the GOP nomination process is “rigged” to favor establishment figures against him.
However, the Republican frontrunner did last week promise to change his image, in a closed-door meeting with GOP leaders.
The Indiana primary is on May 3, Oregon is on May 17, with New Mexico on June 7.
However, before those comes voting in five north-eastern states where Donald Trump is heavily favored.
Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware all vote on April 26.
Campaigning in Maryland on April 24, Donald Trump said he was confident of avoiding a contested convention.
On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders spoke to a rally of 14,000 supporters in New Haven, Connecticut, on April 24, again accusing rival Hillary Clinton of earning money through “speeches behind closed doors on Wall Street”.
Hillary Clinton retains a clear lead in delegates and will hope the north-eastern state votes will effectively put an end to Bernie Sanders’ dogged campaign.
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have traded increasingly hostile remarks in recent weeks.
However, Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said: “Regardless of the intensity of what’s played out here… we are going to be unified.”
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has promised to change his image, in a closed-door meeting with GOP leaders.
Donald Trump, who leads the Republican race to be presidential nominee, delivered his message via aides, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The New York businessman’s success in primary elections so far has set off alarm bells among those in the party anxious that his tone and policies will turn off voters.
Five states go to the polls on April 26 to pick their presidential candidates.
Donald Trump has a clear lead in the number of delegates but may fall short of the 1,237 threshold required to win the nomination without a contested convention – where the nominee is chosen through negotiations among party figures.
In a recording of April 21 meeting obtained by Associated Press, Donald Trump’s senior aides told Republican leaders that he has been “projecting an image” so far and “the part that he’s been playing is now evolving”.
In it, Donald Trump’s newly hired senior aide, Paul Manafort, told the Republican National Committee (RNC) members that the presidential hopeful has a campaigning personality and a private one.
“When he’s out on the stage, when he’s talking about the kinds of things he’s talking about on the stump, he’s projecting an image that’s for that purpose,” Paul Manafort said.
Donald Trump knows he needs to moderate his personality, Paul Manafort told the meeting. “The negatives [unfavorable ratings in polls] will come down. The image is going to change.”
His standing among female voters is particularly low, after a series of controversial remarks about women, abortion and rival Ted Cruz’s wife.
According to analysts, Donald Trump’s decisive win in the New York primary this week seemed to signal a new, softer side in his victory speech.
Meanwhile, he told a rally in Pennsylvania on April 21: “At some point, I’m going to be so presidential that you people will be so bored.”
On one of the key social issues currently engulfing the GOP, transgender rights, Donald Trump took a stance out of step with his key rival Ted Cruz on April 21, when he said transgender people should be allowed to use a toilet assigned to a gender of their choosing.
Ted Cruz criticized this as politically correct but former candidate Ben Carson praised Donald Trump for “trying to moderate”.
Donald Trump has accused the RNC of conspiring against him and of rigging the way delegates are awarded in a way that is unfavorable to him.
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has won the New York primary while Hillary Clinton has triumphed in the Democratic race.
With the majority of votes counted, Donald Trump looks set to extend his lead over rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich.
Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, a former senator for New York, is on course for a victory over Brooklyn-born Bernie Sanders.
Wins will put Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton closer to securing their nominations.
With more than 98% of the results in, Donald Trump is leading with just over 60% of the vote while Hillary Clinton has just under 58%.
Speaking at Trump Tower in Manhattan, Donald Trump said: “I have to say to the people that know me the best – the people of New York – when they give us this kind of a vote it’s just incredible.”
Photo LA Times
The billionaire businessman said he was going to get more delegates than “anyone projected even in their wildest imaginations”.
The big question is whether Donald Trump will make a clean sweep of all 95 Republican delegates at stake in New York by earning the majority of votes.
This would reduce the chances of a contested nomination at the GOP convention in July.
Claiming her win, Hillary Clinton told supporters her campaign for the nomination was “in the home stretch and victory is in sight”.
“New Yorkers, you’ve always had my back and I’ve always tried to have yours,” she said.
“Today together we did it again and I am deeply, deeply grateful.”
It has been a fierce campaign in the state, with the leading candidates using their local ties to attract voters.
The Democratic campaign has turned increasingly negative, with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders trading barbs about their qualifications.
Following the latest result in the race for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton said there was “much more that unites us than divides us”.
The two front-runners for both parties cast their own votes in New York on April 19.
Donald Trump cast his ballot at Central Synagogue in Manhattan in the morning, while Hillary Clinton voted with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, near their home in the suburb of Chappaqua.
They are the last presidential candidates to vote in the primary contest. Bernie Sanders voted in his home state of Vermont in March, while Republican challengers Ted Cruz and John Kasich went to the polls in Texas and Ohio.
The voting in New York was marred by widespread complaints of irregularities, including more than 125,000 people missing from New York City voter rolls. The city’s chief auditing officer, Scott Stringer, ordered a review of the city’s Board of Elections (BOE) over what he called “chaotic and inefficient” organization.
Although Donald Trump was sweeping to victory across most of the state, Ohio Governor John Kasich, otherwise in a distant second place, was leading in his home borough of Manhattan.
Ted Cruz has won all 14 delegates in contention at a state party convention in Wyoming.
The delegates were chosen by Republican members rather than ordinary voters.
Ted Cruz’s rival Donald Trump – who did not actively campaign in the state – remains the Republican front-runner overall.
However, Donald Trump could fall short of the number of delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination for the November presidential election.
Photo Getty Images
That would mean a contested convention where voting for candidates starts again from scratch.
Donald Trump is concentrating on New York, which holds a key primary on April 19.
A number of senior Republican leaders have backed Ted Cruz, a Conservative Texas senator, fearing that Donald Trump’s controversial comments make him a weak candidate in the November election.
The result from the Wyoming contest brings Ted Cruz’s tally from 545 to 559 delegates. Donald Trump has 743.
In his victory speech on April 16, Ted Cruz said: “If you don’t want to see Donald Trump as the nominee, if you don’t want to hand the general (election) to Hillary Clinton, which is what a Trump nomination does, then I ask you to please support the men and women on this slate.”
In the Democratic race, Hillary Clinton is still ahead of her only remaining rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
Donald Trump has accused GOP’s leaders of conspiracy, saying they do not want him to win the presidential nomination.
The system was “stacked” against him, the Republican frontrunner said in New York, accusing the Republican National Committee (RNC) of conspiring against him.
Donald Trump’s comments come after his rival Ted Cruz was awarded all the delegates in Colorado without a state-wide vote.
He leads the race but may fall short of getting enough delegates to get the nomination outright.
That would lead to a contested convention in July, where delegates are free after the first ballot to back whom they want, opening the door for Texas Senator Ted Cruz or even the third candidate in the race, John Kasich.
The Washington Post reported on April 13 that Ted Cruz is likely to win on a second vote, because he has persuaded so many delegates to vote for him when they are “unbound” to vote as pledged.
However, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus rejected Donald Trump’s charge that the rules in states like Colorado had been changed in response to his rise in the polls.
Reince Priebus tweeted that the nomination process had been well known for more than a year.
“It’s the responsibility of the campaigns to understand it. Complaints now? Give us all a break.”
Asked at a town hall event in New York whether the RNC wanted him to win, Donald Trump said: “No, I don’t think so. I really don’t.”
He has been criticized for not campaigning hard enough on the ground in states like Colorado.
However, Donald Trump said delegates who wanted to support him were being pushed out by the RNC.
“They don’t like when I put up my own money because it means they don’t have any control of me because I’m working for the people,” he said.
Most states have opted to hold state-wide primaries or caucuses to determine the number of delegates pledged to a particular candidate.
However, Colorado decided last summer to select its delegates in a different way, at its own state convention.
The state-by-state primary contests come to New York next week where a high number of delegates will be up for grabs.
Several senior Republicans have expressed opposition to Donald Trump winning, doubting his ability to win a general election and disagreeing with his hard line on immigration.
The property tycoon has broken an earlier pledge he made to support whoever the Republicans nominate, therefore refusing to rule out a third-party run.
Donald Trump has said there will be “riots” if he is not chosen as the party’s nominee, having headed to the convention with the most delegates.
Paul Ryan has officially ruled out his 2016 presidential bid as Republican candidate.
The Speaker of the House said: “I do not want, nor will I accept the Republican nomination.”
Paul Ryan’s name was floated as a late contender if there is a contested convention in July, as doubts persist over the strength of the candidates.
If Donald Trump, John Kasich nor Ted Cruz is able to win 1,237 delegates, the convention will be contested.
The state-by-state primary contests, which come to New York next week, determine the number of delegates pledged to a particular candidate.
Donald Trump is still well ahead in the number of delegates accumulated but may fall short of the magic number required.
At a contested convention, the delegates are free after the first ballot to back whom they want, opening the door for Texas Senator Ted Cruz or even the third candidate in the race, John Kasich.
Some in the party had hoped Paul Ryan would emerge as a candidate at that stage, believing he would be a more effective and less divisive figure than Donald Trump or Ted Cruz.
Speaking at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington, Paul Ryan – who ran as Mitt Romney’s running mate in the 2012 presidential election – ruled himself out unequivocally.
Some commentators were quick to point out that Paul Ryan said he did not want to run for Speaker of the House in 2015 before eventually accepting the job.
Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has won the Wyoming primaries after beating rival Hillary Clinton.
The state’s 14 delegates will be awarded proportionally. Bernie Sanders has won seven of the latest eight states.
However, Hillary Clinton maintains a clear lead in the overall race. Both are concentrating their efforts on the key New York primary later this month.
In the Republican race, Ted Cruz hopes to pick up more delegates in Colorado.
In state assemblies which culminated on April 8, Ted Cruz won 21 delegates to just two for Donald Trump, who still has a comfortable lead in the overall nomination race for the Republicans.
On April, a further 13 delegates are at stake at the Colorado Republican Convention.
Ted Cruz has 520 Republican delegates to 743 for Donald Trump. Ted Cruz is hoping to win at least enough votes to block an outright win for Donald Trump and force a decision at the party’s convention in July.
The next big prize for both parties is the New York primaries on April 19: 291 delegates are at stake for the Democrats and 95 for Republicans.
Despite April 9 win in the Wyoming caucuses, Bernie Sanders still has only 1,061 delegates to 1,749 for Hillary Clinton, when the latter’s 469 superdelegates are added to the tally. To win, a candidate needs 2,383.
The presidential election itself, on November 8, will see America vote for a successor to Barack Obama, a Democratic president standing down after two terms in office which have seen the Republicans take control of both houses of Congress.
Ted Cruz has won the Wisconsin primary for the Republican presidential nomination.
In the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders scored a strong victory over Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin.
Donald Trump is still the frontrunner in the Republican field, but could fall short of the number of delegates needed to secure the party’s nomination.
His rivals have pinned their hopes on a contested convention.
At a contested convention, GOP leaders, not voters, would choose the nominee.
Donald Trump said on April 5 he would prevail despite the loss and took aim at his rival.
Photo Getty Images
“Ted Cruz is worse than a puppet – he is a Trojan horse, being used by the party bosses attempting to steal the nomination,” the Trump campaign said in a statement.
GOP leaders are concerned that Donald Trump would be a weak candidate in the general election and could harm other Republicans lawmakers on the ballot.
Polls show that the real estate tycoon is extremely unpopular among key voting blocs including women, Latinos and young people.
On the Democratic side, Wisconsin adds to a recent spate of wins by Bernie Sanders campaign, giving the Vermont senator a boost before key races in New York and Pennsylvania.
Bernie Sanders won nearly every county in the state except Milwaukee, but as delegates are awarded proportionally he will not gain a significant advantage over Hillary Clinton.
Of the 86 Wisconsin delegates, Bernie Sanders is on course for at least 44, but Hillary Clinton will have at least 28.
Addressing supporters in Wyoming, which holds its primary on April 9, Bernie Sanders stressed momentum was on his side and that his outsider candidacy could change the status quo.
“Real change never takes place from the top down; it always takes place from the bottom up,” he told supporters.
Hillary Clinton still holds a sizeable lead and most analysts say she will eventually become the Democratic nominee despite her recent losses.
While Tuesday’s loss was a setback for Donald Trump, his campaign has time to rebound
The campaign now moves to large north-eastern states, where polls show Donald Trump holds significant leads.
Donald Trump’s loss in Wisconsin comes after a rocky week for the campaign, particularly with female voters.
He repeatedly struggled to articulate his position on abortion. At one point, he called for women to be punished for having abortions, then quickly changed his mind.
Meanwhile, outside groups opposed to Donald Trump’s nomination stepped up their efforts in Wisconsin, running negative television adverts.
Popular state leaders such as Governor Scott Walker and influential talk radio program hosts also opposed the Trump campaign and threw their support behind Ted Cruz.
Donald Trump has said he would cut off money sent to Mexico to force them to pay for a border wall with the US.
In a memo to the Washington Post, the Republican presidential hopeful says he would threaten to change a law to cut off cash transfers.
The prospect of losing a vital source of income would force Mexico into a “one-time payment” of $5-10 billion, says Donald Trump.
Voters in Wisconsin are picking their presidential candidates.
They are going to the polls in a vote that could reshape the Republican race, with front-runner Donald Trump facing a strong challenge from Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
Asked about the memo at a campaign stop in Wisconsin, Donald Trump said he stood by it.
Photo Getty Images
“Absolutely, 100%,” he told reporters.
“The wall is a fraction of the kind of money in many ways that Mexico takes from the US.”
Building a border wall with Mexico has been a core message of Donald Trump’s campaign but until now he has not said in much detail how he would make Mexico pay for it.
Mexico’s central bank said that money sent home from overseas hit nearly $24.8 billion in 2015, more than its oil revenues.
The law Donald Trump wishes to changes, as outlined in his memo, is part of the US Patriot Act – he would stop anyone living illegally in the US from sending money overseas.
Just the threat of enacting this would make Mexico “immediately protest,” the Trump memo reads, and they would be compelled to pay for the wall.
Donald Trump also proposed raising visa fees and cancelling visas for Mexicans.
If Ted Cruz wins in Wisconsin, as polls suggest, it will help him close the gap on Donald Trump in the all-important delegate count.
Delegates represent their states at the GOP’s convention in July and are accumulated by the votes in each state.
A Wisconsin defeat would make it is far less likely that Donald Trump will have the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination.
It would raise questions about the strength of his campaign, after a week of adverse headlines.
Donald Trump’s unpopularity with sections of his party means he could be deprived of the nomination at the summer convention if he does not get the number he needs.
Currently, Donald Trump has 735 delegates, Ted Cruz 461 and Ohio Governor John Kasich 143.
Donald Trump is now saying US abortion laws should remain unchanged, although he believes the procedure amounts to murder.
In an interview with CBS News, the Republican presidential hopeful said: “The laws are set. And I think we have to leave it that way.”
Donald Trump’s comments come as the New York property tycoon has struggled this week to articulate his position on abortion.
He withdrew a call for women who have abortions to be punished, only hours after suggesting it.
After an outpouring of criticism from both anti-abortion and abortion rights activists, Donald Trump later said only the people who perform abortions should face punishment.
Photo Getty Images
The comments end a rocky week for Donald Trump on the campaign trail.
According to some polls, Donald Trump is trailing Texas Senator Ted Cruz by 10 percentage points in Wisconsin, which holds its primary on April 5.
Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump’s Republican rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich repeatedly criticized Trump’s shifting comments on abortion.
Ted Cruz said the remarks showed that Donald Trump “hasn’t seriously thought through the issues”.
John Kasich – the popular governor of Ohio – also questioned whether Donald Trump had the temperament needed for the office of the president.
Donald Trump supports a ban on abortions, with some exceptions.
Only the Supreme Court or a constitutional amendment has the power to overturn Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal.
After the comments were made public, Donald Trump’s spokeswoman Hope Hicks sought to clarify his statement.
Hope Hicks said that Donald Trump would change abortion laws if elected by appointing Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v Wade.
Once a Democrat, Donald Trump has been criticized for supporting abortion rights in the past.
Anti-abortion activists have traditionally avoided placing blame on women who undergo abortions, but have focused on those who perform the procedure.
In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban.
Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women’s access to abortion.
The new laws are particularly widespread in conservative southern states.
Republican leaders have expressed concern about Donald Trump’s prospects in the general election because polls show that he is extremely unpopular with female voters.
Donald Trump has come under fire for disparaging women including former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and TV presenter Megyn Kelly.
Donald Trump has changed his mind after calling for women who have abortions to be punished, only hours after suggesting it.
The Republican presidential hopeful had proposed “some form of punishment” for women who have abortions if they were made illegal.
After strong criticism, Donald Trump repeated the Republican party line that only the person performing the abortion should be punished, not the women.
Donald Trump supports a ban on abortions, with some exceptions.
Abortion has been legal in the US since 1973 after a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Photo MSNBC
Only the Supreme Court or a constitutional amendment has the power to overturn Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal.
Donald Trump’s initial comments made during a town hall event with MSNBC sparked a wave of criticism.
He later maintained: “The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb.
“My position has not changed – like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions.”
Once a Democrat, Donald Trump has been criticized for supporting abortion rights in the past.
Some anti-abortion groups criticized Donald Trump’s initial comments as extreme.
“Mr. Trump’s comment today is completely out of touch with the pro-life movement and even more with women who have chosen such a sad thing as abortion,” said Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund.
“No pro-lifer would ever want to punish a woman who has chosen abortion.”
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump’s stance on women’s issues.
“Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse. Horrific and telling,” said Hillary Clinton after his latest comments.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Donald Trump’s closest rival in the Republican race, also condemned the tycoon’s comments.
“Once again Donald Trump has demonstrated that he hasn’t seriously thought through the issues, and he’ll say anything just to get attention,” Ted Cruz said.
His spokesman Brian Phillips added on Twitter: “Don’t overthink it: Trump doesn’t understand the pro-life position because he’s not pro-life.”
Republican leaders have expressed concern about Donald Trump’s prospects in the general election because polls show that he is extremely unpopular with female voters.
Donald Trump has come under fire for disparaging women including former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and TV presenter Megyn Kelly.
His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested on March 29, accused of a minor assault on a female reporter. Donald Trump has vehemently defended Corey Lewandowski.
Anti-abortion activists traditionally have avoided placing blame on women who undergo abortions, but have focused on those who perform the procedure.
In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban.
Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women’s access to abortion.
The new laws are particularly widespread in conservative southern states.
Donald Trump has dropped his pledge to support the GOP candidate if he does not win the Republican nomination for the November election.
His rivals, Ted Cruz and John Kasich, refused to say outright whether they would unite behind a nominee.
All the Republican candidates signed a loyalty pledge last November.
It is the latest sign of friction between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, who have been embroiled in a dispute involving each other’s wives.
A committee supporting Ted Cruz published a photo of Donald Trump’s wife Melania from 2000. In retaliation, Donald Trump tweeted an unflattering picture of Ted Cruz’s wife Heidi.
Asked by CNN about the dispute, Donald Trump said of Ted Cruz: “He started it.”
Photo Getty Images
CNN presenter Anderson Cooper replied, said: “But, sir, with all due respect, that’s the argument of a five-year-old.”
“No, it’s not,” said Donald Trump.
Donald Trump claims he has been “treated very unfairly” in the campaign.
To a question about whether he maintained his loyalty pledge from last November, Donald Trump said: “No, I do not anymore.”
Earlier, when asked the same question, Ted Cruz did not give a direct answer but said: “I am not in the habit of supporting someone who attacks my wife and attacks my family.”
He went on: “Donald is not going to be the GOP nominee. We are going to beat him.”
Donald Trump later replied, saying he did not need Ted Cruz’s support: “I have tremendous support right now from the people.”
The New York tycoon has been repeatedly criticized by his rivals and observers for a campaign that has included personal attacks at rivals and criticism and violence against protesters.
Despite the numerous recent controversies surrounding him, Donald Trump is currently well ahead in the Republican race with 739 delegates to Ted Cruz’s 465.
John Kasich is some way behind with 143, with the 1,237 needed to win the nomination probably out of his reach.
The three candidates have campaigned in Wisconsin ahead of April 5 primary there.
President Barack Obama has blamed the media for the rise of Republican Donald Trump as a political force.
Speaking at an event for political reporters, Barack Obama said it was not enough to give “someone a microphone”.
Donald Trump, who has made waves with a series of controversial remarks, is winning the race to be GOP’s presidential nominee.
The New York businessman and the other two Republicans in contention will appear on TV later.
CNN is hosting a town hall event on March 29 ahead of a crucial primary in Wisconsin next week.
Giving a keynote address at a journalists’ award dinner, Barack Obama did not mention Donald Trump by name but his target was clear.
Politicians, journalists and citizens are all responsible for the divisive and bitter political atmosphere, the president said, but reporters should be digging deeper on the 2016 presidential candidates.
In a reference to Donald Trump’s domination of the news cycle, Barack Obama said the job of a political reporter was “more than just handing someone a microphone”.
Billions of dollars in free media should come with serious accountability, especially when politicians issue unworkable plans or make promises they cannot keep, Barack Obama said.
Donald Trump has had a rough couple of days in the state that will next make its choice for Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin primary is on April 5, with Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz neck-and-neck in the state’s polls.
First Donald Trump faced a hostile conservative talk-radio host, Charlie Sykes, who grilled him on his donations to Democrats and his insults to women, most recently Ted Cruz’s wife.
“Wouldn’t it be a good way to start off your Wisconsin campaign by saying that wives should be off-limits and that you apologize for mocking her looks?” Charlie Sykes asked Donald Trump during the interview.
Charlie Sykes also wrongfooted Donald Trump on air by revealing he was part of the #NeverTrump movement.
Conservative websites The Federalist and RedState said Donald Trump “fell apart live on-air when asked tough questions”.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said on March 29 he was backing Ted Cruz because he was the candidate most likely to win the election in November.
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz’s feud is becoming increasingly personal, with the Texas senator accusing “sleazy Donald” of spreading rumors.
Ted Cruz told reporters that Donald Trump was behind a story in the National Enquirer that alleged Cruz has had extramarital affairs.
The Texas senator called the story “garbage, complete and utter lies”.
“It is a tabloid smear and it has come from Donald Trump and his henchmen.”
As evidence that Donald Trump planted the story, Ted Cruz pointed out that the only person quoted by name in the Enquirer story was Roger Stone, a former top adviser to the Trump campaign.
Photo AP
Ted Cruz also noted that Donald Trump and National Enquirer CEO David Pecker are close friends.
Asked whether he would still support Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, if he won the nomination, Ted Cruz did not answer directly.
However, he said: “I’m not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and my family.”
Donald Trump said in a statement: “I had absolutely nothing to do with it.”
On March 22, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, who had been on good terms earlier in the campaign, began trading insults on Twitter.
Mistakenly believing the Cruz campaign had produced an attack advert about his wife Melania, Donald Trump on Twitter threatened to “spill the beans” on Cruz’s wife, Heidi.
Ted Cruz responded saying his campaign did not produce the advert, calling Donald Trump “classless” and a “coward”.
On March 23, Donald Trump continued, posting an unflattering photo of Heidi Cruz on Twitter.
Ted Cruz responded, calling Donald Trump a “sniveling coward” and told him to “leave Heidi the hell alone”.
Hillary Clinton rebuked Republicans and defended NATO in a counter-terrorism speech after March 22 deadly attacks in Brussels.
The Democratic frontrunner’s comments contrasted sharply with her Republican counterparts, namely Donald Trump, who has suggested scaling back US commitments to NATO.
Hillary Clinton said the US should consult more deeply with Arab partners and stand with Europe in its time of need.
“Our European allies stood with us on 9/11. It’s time to return the favor” she said.
“America should not turn its back on its allies,” Hillary Clinton said during remarks at Stanford University in California, and insulting them is not a good way to fight terrorism.
The former secretary of state addressed Donald Trump’s calls to reinstate the use of torture and water boarding to glean information from those accused of terrorism.
“I am proud to have been part of an administration that outlawed torture,” Hillary Clinton said.
The deadly attacks in Brussels that killed 34 people are the “latest brutal reminder” that more must be one to defeat to ISIS militant group, she said.
The US and Europe should take a “harder look” at airport security protocols, and other “soft targets” that ISIS may attack.
Hillary Clinton also said proposal in Congress to make a national commission on encryption could help fight online radicalization.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has suggested in the wake of Brussels attacks that police patrol Muslim neighborhoods to fight terrorism, and has also suggested “carpet-bombing” ISIS in Syria.
Hillary Clinton called his suggestion “wrong, counterproductive and dangerous,” and that it would be similar to “treating American Muslims like criminals”.
Donald Trump has said it is acceptable to kill terrorists’ families and that the US should not admit any Muslims into its borders.
Hillary Clinton said of Donald Trump’s foreign policy views: “If Mr. Trump gets his way, it will be like Christmas in the Kremlin.”
Jeb Bush has decided to endors Texas Senator Ted Cruz for president, calling him a “principled conservative”.
The former governor of Florida dropped out of the Republican race last month after poor showings in state contests.
Jeb Bush said Ted Cruz has shown the ability to appeal to voters and win primary contests, like in Utah on March 22.
Republicans must “overcome the divisiveness and vulgarity” Donald Trump has introduced, he said.
If not, the GOP will certainly lose the White House to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush wrote in a Facebook post.
“Republicans can win back the White House and put our nation on a path to security and prosperity if we support a nominee who can unite our party and articulate how conservative policies will help people rise up and reach their full potential,” Jeb Bush wrote, and linked to Ted Cruz’s website.
Ted Cruz, speaking to CNN on March 23, said Jeb Bush’s endorsement proved his candidacy had garnered support among Republicans.
Former 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney also recently endorsed Ted Cruz, strongly urging fellow Republicans not to back Donald Trump.
Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner, currently has the highest delegate count and has said there may be “riots” if he is denied the Republican nomination come the party’s convention this summer.
Anti-Trump Republicans are hoping for a brokered convention, in which party officials, not delegates, would chose the nominee, but that is only possible if Donald Trump falls short of the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination.
After contests in Utah and Arizona on March 22, Donald Trump has 739 delegates and Ted Cruz has 465.
In 2012, Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney for president, but now the former Republican candidate calls Trump a “phony” and a “fraud”.
When Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, was still in the race, Donald Trump called him “pathological”. Now Ben Carson has endorsed him.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who attacked Donald Trump on the campaign trail, backs the billionaire now that he is out of the race.
Former Republican presidential candidates Carly Fiorina and Lindsey Graham have also endorsed Ted Cruz.
Ted Cruz has urged Ohio Governor John Kasich to drop out of the race, and said he would probably find a place for him in his administration.
He said John Kasich was a “spoiler” by taking votes that could go to him and help the Republicans defeat Donald Trump.
The nasty battle between the leading Republicans worsened this week when Donald Trump warned Ted Cruz he would “spills the beans on your wife” after an anti-Trump group ran ads in Utah featuring a photo of Trump’s wife Melania from an old GQ magazine spread.
Ted Cruz said in response: “Donald, if you try to attack Heidi, you’re more of a coward than I thought.”
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have continued to win new states, now taking Arizona.
The issue of immigration loomed large in Arizona, the biggest prize in the latest round of contests.
Polls showed that Donald Trump’s anti-immigration message resonated with Arizona’s conservative voters.
With the state’s growing Latino population, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton continued her success by courting minority voters.
Keeping his campaign in the race, rival Democrat Bernie Sanders decisively won caucuses in two smaller states, Idaho and Utah.
The Utah Republican caucuses were won by Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
During a victory speech in Seattle, Hillary Clinton addressed the terrorist attacks in Brussels on March 22, pushing back against the Republican candidates’ response to the bombings.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump reiterated his plan to ban Muslims from travelling to US and suggested that the US should torture terrorism suspects.
The Republican primary in Arizona was a winner-take-all race, adding 58 delegates to Donald Trump’s sizable lead.
Donald Trump’s win complicates efforts by Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich to stop him from securing a majority of delegates.
If Donald Trump falls short in the delegate count, the party could hold a brokered or contested convention where party leaders, not voters, choose the nominee.
However, that scenario is looking less likely as Donald Trump continues to win states.
Arizona residents’ preference for early voting, with many mailing in their ballots, may have affected the race.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who left the race on March 15, has secured more than 70,000 votes thus far.
As the final voters headed to the polls on March 22, the Republican race took another nasty turn.
Mistakenly believing the Cruz campaign had produced an attack advert about his wife Melania, DonaldTrump on Twitter threatened to “spill the beans” on Ted Cruz’s wife, Heidi.
Ted Cruz responded saying his campaign did not produce the advert, calling Donald Trump “classless” and a “coward”.
Donald Trump has revealed the first members of his foreign policy team.
The advisers include academics and former military officers with expertise on the Middle East and energy issues.
The Republican frontrunner told the Washington Post that he would name more advisers in the coming days.
Several of Donald Trump’s advisers have served as experts for other Republican presidential candidates such as Mitt Romney and Ben Carson.
On March 21, Donald Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, Walid Phares and retired Gen. Joseph Schmitz.
The team is led by Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama who has helped shape Donald Trump’s policies, most notably on immigration.
Donald Trump has come under criticism in recent days over his policy credentials. When cable news network MSNBC asked him who was advising him on policy, Donald Trump named himself.
While some members of his team are not well known in Republican academic circles, others are seen as controversial figures.
Gen. Joseph Schmitz resigned from the military in 2005 amid accusations of misconduct. However, Joseph Schmitz was never charged with wrongdoing.
Another adviser, Walid Phares, was criticized when he was named as part of Mitt Romney’s foreign policy team in 2011.
Muslim advocacy groups took issue with Walid Phares’s close ties to right-wing Christian militia groups during the Lebanese civil war.
He is an outspoken critic of Sharia, or Islamic religious law, and has appeared on Fox News and other conservative media outlets as an expert on the Middle East.
George Papadopoulos recently served as an adviser to Ben Carson, who dropped out of the race in February. George Papadopoulos has worked as a consultant for energy companies in the Middle East.
Donald Trump also said the US should spend less money on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
“We are paying disproportionately,” he told CNN.
“It’s too much and frankly it’s a different world than it was when we originally conceived of the idea.”
Some 50 protesters blocked a highway in Arizona as Donald Trump prepared to stage a rally near Phoenix.
Donald Trump addressed supporters in Fountain Hills.
Demonstrators caused traffic jams as they held up posters with slogans such as “Dump Trump”.
Donald Trump’s rallies have been marred by a series of recent incidents. A meeting in Chicago a week ago was cancelled after protests.
Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered at the University of Illinois and fighting broke out between supporters and protesters in the auditorium where Donald Trump was due to speak.
In the latest disturbance, protesters marched down the highway leading to Fountain Hills. Police made several arrests before the demonstrators dispersed.
Some, heavily outnumbered by Trump supporters, made their way to the edge of the rally venue in Fountain Park.
Speaking later at a rally in Tucson, Donald Trump described the protesters as “disgraceful” and said they were “representing [Democratic front-runner] Hillary Clinton”.
“They arrested three people and everybody else left… They left!” the Republican front-runner told a cheering audience.
“I love our police, but we should do a little bit more of that, you would have a lot less protesters, you would have a lot less agitators.”
Demonstrations also broke out there and the police had to escort out a number of people.
In Donald Trump’s home city of New York, several hundred protesters gathered outside Trump Tower in Manhattan.
Some chanted slogans accusing him of racism and being anti-gay. The gathering included immigrants’ rights activists and socialists.
Several protesters carrying “Vote Trump” placards were also present, explaining that they wanted to demonstrate their right to support Donald Trump.
On March 12, a man tried to rush Donald Trump as he spoke on stage in Ohio but was prevented from doing so by Secret Service agents.
A Donald Trump supporter was also charged with assault after multiple videos showed him punching a protester at a campaign rally in North Carolina.
Donald Trump has been accused of creating tension through divisive rhetoric, but he denies using hate speech or playing any part in fostering division.
The Arizona rally was the Republican hopeful’s second visit to the state in three months. A primary takes place there on March 22.
The winner in Arizona takes all 58 delegates at stake. Donald Trump leads the polls in the state.
Mitt Romney says he will vote for Texas Senator Ted Cruz in Utah caucus as he is “repulsed” by Donald Trump.
The former Republican presidential candidate said in a Facebook post that the only way to nominate a Republican is to have an open convention, in which party officials choose the nominee.
Mitt Romney campaigned with Governor John Kasich in Ohio but said voting for Ted Cruz is the only way to stop “Trumpism”.
He joins other Republican leaders coalescing around Ted Cruz.
Donald Trump has won the most state contests and holds 678 delegates – 1,237 are needed to win the nomination.
Photo Facebook
“Mitt Romney is a mixed up man who doesn’t have a clue. No wonder he lost!” Donald Trump said on Twitter.
However, Republican leaders are concerned that Donald Trump’s controversial comments about immigrants, women and Muslims would make him a weak candidate in the general election in November.
Some also feel that the onetime Democrat cannot be trusted to implement conservative policies.
“Today, there is a contest between Trumpism and Republicanism,” Mitt Romney said.
“Through the calculated statements of its leader, Trumpism has become associated with racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence. I am repulsed by each and every one of these.”
Earlier this month, Mitt Romney gave a speech outlining why he was against Donald Trump, a billionaire businessman with no political experience, calling him a “phoney” and a “fraud”.
Mitt Romney’s home state of Utah holds its presidential contest on March 22.
A group of conservatives including well-known talk radio host Erick Erickson met on March 17 to discuss ways to defeat Donald Trump, including launching a third party campaign to challenge the New York businessman.
“We encourage all former Republican candidates not currently supporting Trump to unite against him and encourage all candidates to hold their delegates on the first ballot,” he said in a statement, put out on behalf of the group.
“We believe that the issue of Donald Trump is greater than an issue of party. It is an issue of morals and character that all Americans, not just those of us in the conservative movement, must confront.”
Many GOP members have also misgiving about Ted Cruz because he has repeatedly and publicly denounced Republican leaders.
However, more prominent Republicans are throwing their support behind Ted Cruz in a last-ditch effort to stop Donald Trump.
Popular South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have recently endorsed Ted Cruz.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who left the Republican race on March 15, said this week he would not be endorsing any of his former rivals.
He also said he had no interest in becoming a vice-presidential nominee.
Donald Trump won four out five primaries on March 15, but the race in Missouri has not been called for the Republicans yet.
Hillary Clinton narrowly won the state’s Democratic primary after her opponent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders declined to pursue a recount.
Donald Trump has won a decisive victory in the key state of Florida but lost to John Kasich in Ohio.
In the Democratic field, Hillary Clinton extended her lead with wins in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and North Carolina.
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio dropped out of the Republican race after losing in his home state of Florida to Donald Trump.
Donald Trump has also won in Illinois and North Carolina.
The billionaire’s victories cause a headache for the Republican Party because many senior members are concerned by his policies and tone.
Donald Trump will need just over half of the hundreds of delegates remaining to win a majority in the Republican race and assure him of the nomination.
Five big states on Tuesday chose their preferred candidate for November’s presidential election.
The winners for both parties in Missouri are yet to be called with Hillary Clinton locked in tight competition with challenger Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump fighting Ted Cruz.
“We have to bring our party together,” Donald Trump said in Palm Beach, Florida, as the results came in on Tuesday evening.
However, John Kasich secured his first win in the Republican contest in the state of Ohio where he is governor.
In his victory speech, John Kasich said he wanted to create a “climate of opportunity” for future generations and praised the campaign of Marco Rubio.
Earlier Marco Rubio announced he was suspending his campaign on stage in Miami.
He said the US was in the middle of a “political storm”, and voters were angry and frustrated.
In Florida, Hillary Clinton gave an upbeat victory speech in which she chastised Donald Trump and said “Americans were hungry for solutions”.
She listed student debt, affordable childcare and inequality as issues she pledged to address.
Florida and Ohio are particularly important in the race for the Republican nomination because the winning candidate gets all of the delegates on offer – 99 in Florida and 66 in Ohio.
Those delegates go to the national convention in July where the presidential nominee will be chosen.
However, Donald Trump’s latest victories come amid increasing condemnation of his campaign within the Republican Party, and after a string of violent incidents at his rallies.
Some senior Republicans have said they would never support him, and on March 15 it emerged that a group of leading conservatives are planning ways of stopping Donald Trump from winning the Republican nomination – including rallying around a third-party candidate.
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