http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/277009-campaign-memo-projects-trump-will-win-1400-delegates-atApril 20, 2016, 02:12 pm
Trump campaign projects 1,400 delegates at convention: report
By Rebecca Savransky
Internal documents show Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump's campaign advisors are projecting that the front-runner will secure more than 1,400 delegates at the Republican convention in July, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
That total greatly exceeds the 1,237 delegates necessary to secure the nomination on the first ballot.
The projection was found in an internal campaign memo sent to Trump surrogates Tuesday night, after Trump secured a convincing win in the New York primary. It called the front-runner's win in New York "YUGE" and included talking points to use in in media interviews.
It advised the surrogates to talk about the "rigged" primary process and to slam the Republican National Committee (RNC).
"The RNC has a lot to answer for as do those who are part of the donor class and the party establishment," the memo said.
"This movement scares the hell out of them and the people scare them, so they will do whatever they can to keep power."
The memo also slams rival Ted Cruz. Trump conspicuously didn't reference his usual nickame of "Lyin Ted" on Tuesday night after winning the New York primary.
"The Cruz spin machine produces more lies than anything else," the memo said.
It also includes talking points about policy issues and advises people to reference Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's email scandal moving forward to the general election.
"Hilllary email scandal is going to loom large over the next several months. If anyone else had done what she had done, they would already be in prison," it advised people to say of Clinton.
The Associated Press said Wednesday that Cruz was mathematically eliminated from securing the nomination on the first ballot, making Trump the only candidate who could get the nomination before the Republican National Convention in July.
Cruz said Wednesday that "we are headed to a contested convention at this point."
"Nobody is getting to 1,237," he told Philadelphia radio host Chris Stigall.
John Kasich has long predicted a contested convention.
Trump currently has 845 delegates, followed by Cruz with 559 and Kasich with 147, according to the Associated Press.