Ted Cruz is gobbling up delegates without a popular vote in the Midwest and the leader of one Missouri town is crying foul.
Adam Paul, mayor of Ellisville and a Donald Trump supporter, tells
The Missouri Times that at a St. Louis County caucus, he watched as former Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones — who lives far away on the state's southern border — loaded the meeting with Cruz supporters.
"Those things don't pass the smell test. We had a slate that we presented which was more a reflection of the will of the people, and their slate was filled with Cruz supporters," Paul told The Times, noting that the maneuver nonetheless played by the rules.
He said if a contested GOP convention occurs and Trump doesn't become the Republican nominee, even though he has a difference of nearly 2 million votes, it may have devastating effect on the party.
"This is going to throw a wedge into the Republican party if Trump wins the majority of delegates that are bound but not the nomination. I think that's really going to damage the party," he said.
Trump's campaign has cried foul over the way Cruz has been taking delegates in recent weeks. Cruz and others say they're just working within the parameters of the delegate system, which varies by state.
If Trump comes up short of the 1,237 delegate votes needed to clinch the nomination, it could open the door for Cruz or Ohio Gov. John Kasich to step in and earn a spot on the November ballot.