Though no one but the most cynical opportunist would hope for a terrorist attack to garner political gain, but it is hard to deny, first with Paris, then San Bernardino, CA and now Brussels, that as concerns about terrorism rise, so does support for the candidate Americans believe has the most capability and resolve to defeat: Donald Trump.
At the West winces yet again following the latest terrorist attacks, this time in Belgium, for which ISIS has taken credit, Arizonans and Utahns went to the polls on March 22, handing Trump two more victories. As Trump continues to pad his lead over second-place Ted Cruz, the only remaining GOP candidate with even a mathematical chance to catch him, whether the Republican establishment in the party itself and among the media coalesce around the frontrunner or will perpetuate their efforts to derail his momentum remains to be seen.
At press time, Trump easily took winner-take-all Arizona and all of its 58 delegates, and Utah had not yet been called.
At this point there is little doubt that Trump will have the most delegates heading into the Republican Convention in July, and that if he gains the majority – 1237 – he will be the party nominee. To the latter point, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus has guaranteed it. The only question remains whether Trump’s inevitable delegate lead would constitute a 1237 majority, or a less-than 1237 plurality, in which case whether the Convention cedes him the nomination anyway, or engages in a protracted battle, which might include the drafting of an establishment candidate, hangs in the balance.
Meanwhile, there’s still a contest – at least on paper – going on with the Democrats, though Hillary Clinton with another big primary night continues to leave Bernie Sanders in the dust – despite his spirited challenge – on her way to the nomination.