Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Monday urged supporters of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich to back him instead in Tuesday's key primaries,
Politico reports.
"If you’re here today, or at home watching on TV thinking about supporting Marco Rubio or John Kasich, I say to you, they are good men but they do not have a path for winning," Cruz said during a rally in Peoria, Illinois.
"It's mathematically impossible for them to win, so I say, 'Come and join us, we welcome you with open arms,'" Cruz said.
Republicans need 1,237 delegates to win the nomination outright, and with only 1,401 delegates remaining only Cruz and front-runner Donald Trump have gained enough already to reach that threshold.
Even if Rubio or Kasich won every remaining delegate, their only hope at the nomination would be if neither Cruz nor Trump make it to the magic 1,237 and they could win on a second vote after the pledged delegates are allowed to change their votes.