After Wins In Wisconsin, Cruz, Sanders Hope Momentum Continues
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders celebrated big wins in their respective Wisconsin primaries.
With their victories, they can keep the pressure on front-runners billionaire Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In the Republican race, Cruz maintained a nearly 20 point margin over Trump for much of the night. Leading up to the primary, Cruz averaged a five point lead over Trump in the polls. Cruz ended with 48 percent of the vote in Wisconsin. Trump and John Kasich took 35 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
Because of his win, the Texas senator said that he is more confident than ever that he will earn the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination either before or during the GOP convention in Cleveland this July.
Cruz told his supporters Tuesday, "Tonight is a turning point. It is a rallying cry. It is a call from the hard-working people of Wisconsin to the people of America. We have a choice, a real choice."
In the Democratic primary, Sanders beat Clinton in Wisconsin by 13 percent, with 56 percent of the total vote. He reminded his supporters that, when the race began, he was up to 70 points behind Clinton. But the Vermont senator told the crowd that momentum is now on his side. "With our victory tonight in Wisconsin, we have now won seven of the last eight caucuses and primaries," Sanders said.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Cruz will now continue to try to rally Republicans who want to stop Trump. The problem for Cruz is that he is running third in the polls in New York, and Trump has a 53-point lead over Kasich. Trump also leads in Pennsylvania. He will try to protect and expand his lead.
Sanders is trailing Clinton in New York and Pennsylvania. Despite Sanders' recent victories, Clinton maintains a big lead in delegates, and analysts say that she will continue her march toward the Democratic nomination. The New York primary is on April 19.
Pennsylvania is the big prize on April 26. Voters in Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island will also hold their primaries on that day.
Follow Jack Fink On Twitter: @cbs11jack