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Cruz calls on fellow GOP candidates to end bids

Posted at 9:40 PM, Mar 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-02 05:08:50-05

In an effort to gain the support of anti-Trump Republicans, Ted Cruz has cast himself as the only hope in preventing the unstoppable frontrunner from winning his party's nomination.

After winning Texas and Oklahoma on Super Tuesday, Cruz repeatedly suggested to supporters in a speech that he was the only one who could take Donald Trump down.

It was an apparent effort to get other candidates to drop their presidential bids. 

"After tonight, we have seen that our campaign is the only campaign that has beaten, that can beat, and that will beat Donald Trump," Cruz said. "We are the only campaign that has beaten Donald Trump once, twice, three times. Fifteen states have now voted. Every one of those states so far has been won by either Donald Trump or myself."

Cruz mentioned no other candidates by name, but was likely aiming his request at Florida Senator Marco Rubio -- a  popular candidate with a somewhat strong following, yet only one state to his name: Minnesota, his sole Super Tuesday victory.

"Tomorrow morning, we have a choice. So long as the field remains divided, Donald Trump's path to the nomination remains more likely. And that would be a disaster for Republicans," Cruz said. "For the candidates who have not yet won a state, who have not racked up significant delegates: I ask you to prayerfully consider our coming together."

Cruz may just have a point – after his wins on Tuesday, and not to mention his victory in the Iowa caucuses last month, he may be the only viable candidate to defeat Trump, though it seems to be a long shot at this point in the race. 

Meanwhile, Trump on Tuesday brought his delegate count soaring upwards with no signs of slowing down.