Trump Faces New Headaches in Behind-Scenes Battle for Delegates

While North Dakota is a most unlikely place for the Republican presidential campaign to take a critical turn, it nonetheless delivered an apparent setback over the weekend to front-runner Donald Trump in the behind-the-scenes battle for delegates, as Ted Cruz declared victory at the northern border state’s GOP convention.

Like most states where Cruz has claimed victory, North Dakota is relatively light on delegates. Trump’s wins in delegate-rich primary states have kept the billionaire businessman well ahead, and the events in Fargo won’t change that.

But the North Dakota showdown speaks to the organizational headwinds Trump is facing – something he’s also dealing with in Wisconsin, which holds its primary Tuesday and where Cruz is polling in front. And if nothing else, the North Dakota convention results could put Cruz in a better position at the party’s July convention if the nomination is still open going into Cleveland.

“I’m thrilled to have the vote of confidence of Republican voters in North Dakota who delivered such a resounding victory today,” Cruz said in a statement. “Whether we defeat Donald Trump before the convention or at it, I’m energized to have the support of the vast majority of North Dakota delegates.”

The vote in North Dakota was not a traditional primary or caucus, but a convention. Delegates chosen over the weekend through an internal party process will not be “bound” to any candidate. For that reason, there technically was no winner from the weekend’s gathering. (Read more from “Trump Faces New Headaches in Behind-Scenes Battle for Delegates” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.