Timing, viability of Cruz-Kasich alliance questioned as Trump sweeps Northeast primaries

Donald Trump racks up a sweep in the northeast Tuesday night, winning primaries in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island and Delaware.

It’s past crunch time for Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. John Kasich.

“They realize, it’s do or die,” El Paso County GOP Executive Director Daniel Cole said. “They have to keep Trump from reaching the 1237 mark and desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Now, Trump’s two challengers who’ve traded jabs on the campaign trail are working together. But Colorado College political science professor, Bob Loevy believes it’s too little to late.

“Whatever you think of Donald Trump he is the one getting the votes,” Loevy said. “This is an anti-democratic conspiracy to stop the person who is getting the most votes from becoming the nominee.”

The strategy begins in Indiana where voters head to the polls next Tuesday.

Kasich will bow out of the Hoosier State to better position Cruz where 57 winner take-all delegates are up for grabs.

Cruz will then stop campaigning in Oregon and New Mexico, clearing the way for Kasich.

Oregon and New Mexico divide delegates proportionally.

109 pivotal delegates in three states that could stop from Trump from reaching the magic number of 1237 or backfire and only pave a clearer path to his nomination.

“Yes, there is a statistical chance this might work,” Loevy said. “But, I don’t see how the convention can take this away from the person who is the clear choice from Republican voters.”

After five wins Tuesday night, ABC News puts Trump’s delegate count at 950.