http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/cruz-snaring-trumps-arizona-delegates/article/2587556Sen. Ted Cruz is out-hustling Donald Trump and looks set to ensure many Arizona delegates will defect to him in a convention floor fight.
The Texas senator, who ever since Iowa has played a stealthy ground game in contrast to Trump's chaotic populism, is taking steps to snatch the Republican presidential nomination from The Donald at the convention in July.
The New York businessman easily won last month's Arizona primary taking 47 percent to Cruz's 25 percent, scooping up all 58 of the state's delegates. That's nearly 5 percent of the 1,237 Trump needs for the nomination, and they're tied are to him on the first ballot.
But Cruz, exploiting deep opposition to Trump among grassroots Republicans, has been far more active in Arizona than Trump, insiders say. He's recruiting candidates for the available 55 delegate slots, that along with the other three delegate positions filled by party leaders, would be allowed to vote for him in a multi-ballot contested convention.
"Cruz, out of all the campaigns, has the most folks on the ground and has been the most organized," Michael Noble, a Republican consultant in Arizona who is neutral, told the Washington Examiner on Friday.
"Trump has no real organization in Arizona," added GOP strategist Sean Noble (no relation) in an email exchange. "Cruz will get most/all Arizona delegates on second ballot."
The Cruz campaign has been exceptionally skilled at grassroots organizing, a talent that lends itself to winning delegate elections in precincts, counties and states across the country. That was on display in North Dakota over the weekend, where Cruz topped Trump to win 18 out of 25 available slots in elections held at the state GOP convention in Fargo.
In a telephone interview, Cruz's top Arizona organizer, Constantin Querard, was cautiously optimistic about the progress his team was making in fielding delegate candidates that would be loyal to Cruz. That team includes Republican legislator David Livingston, the majority whip in the state House of Representatives.
Livingston said team Cruz is engaged in a furious round of phone calls, texts, emails and meetings as it attempts to place loyal delegates. The Phoenix-area Republican indicated that he would be thrilled with Cruz candidates winning 55 percent of the available delegate slots, but said the final results might be closer to splitting the delegation 50-50 with Trump. Flipping 29 of delegates out of 58, Livingston suggested, would be a major victory for Cruz.
"We have a better ground game than [Trump does] in Arizona," he said. "They have some good people too, but we have some really, really good people and I'm hoping that when we get to the state convention that gives us a real competitive advantage."
Querard said the Cruz campaign's Arizona strategy includes expanding the senator's reach beyond loyalists.
Cruz aims to recruit delegate candidates that support Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who has since suspended his presidential campaign — basically anyone who opposes Trump. That might include Trump supporters who are having second thoughts after observing recent missteps and reviewing the latest polls that show him getting shellacked by Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
"We're looking for either Cruz supporters or those who recognize that, to win in November, we need Sen. Cruz," said Querard, who is based near Phoenix. "The effort is there, the organization is there, the support team is there. We're not quite to halftime yet; call me back after next Saturday."
The state GOP chairman, and the Republican National Committee man and woman lead the Arizona convention delegation. The remaining 55 delegates will be elected by grassroots Republicans from around the state in a series of local elections scheduled to occur over the next several days. Activists will formalize the slate in an election to be held on April 30 at the state GOP convention in Mesa.
Trump led Cruz in the overall delegate hunt 736 to 463 ahead of Tuesday's Wisconsin primary. Cruz is favored to win there, and could cut Trump's lead by 42 delegates. In doing so, Cruz would make it more likely that July's nominating convention would be contested, as it would become harder for Trump to win a decisive majority of delegates before the primary season concludes in early June.
Kasich trails with 143 delegates, but might yet be a factor in Cleveland.
In Arizona, Trump has the support of state Treasurer Jeff DeWit and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, among other well known Republicans. Trump's delegate operation is being led on the ground by Thayer Verschoor, an ex-legislator and former executive director of the state party.
Reached by phone on Friday, Verschoor referred inquiries to another Trump campaign leader in Arizona, Charles Munoz, who did not return an email requesting comment.
