California primary loses luster for GOP as Trump rivals withdraw

So much for the pivotal Califoia primary.

With John Kasich and Ted Cruz withdrawing from the Republican presidential race, it all but guarantees that Donald Trump, who cruised to victory in Indiana on Tuesday, will be the GOP’s White House nominee.

In Califoia, it dashes the hopes of political junkies and others who were looking forward to a meaningful June 7 primary that would decide whether Trump won the nomination outright or whether voters here would set the stage for a contested Republican National Convention.

“I really thought Ted Cruz was going to fight all the way to the convention, so I’m a little disappointed,” said Redlands Tea Party Patriots cabinet member John Berry.

Normally, Califoia’s primary takes place after the GOP and Democratic presidential nominees are pretty much decided. But acrimonious races for both parties, and the question of whether Trump would get the 1,237 delegates needed for the GOP nomination, suddenly put the Golden State in play.

The withdrawals throw cold water on those hopes — at least for Republicans.

On the Democratic side, Beie Sanders, who won in Indiana, is counting on a strong victory in Califoia in his long-shot bid to wrest the nomination from Hillary Clinton, who enjoys a sizable lead in delegates.

Sanders sent surrogates Susan Sarandon, Kendrick Sampson and Heather Matarazzo to campaign for him in Southe Califoia on Wednesday.

The Clinton campaign sent former President Bill Clinton to events in San Diego and Los Angeles on Wednesday to promote his wife’s candidacy.

The Cruz and Kasich exits are bad news for the Califoia Republican Party, said Jeifer Walsh, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Azusa Pacific University.

“The Califoia Republican convention last week featured protests and mini-riots by those opposing Trump,” she said. “Califoia Republican leaders who oppose Trump’s candidacy are no doubt wringing their hands over Trump’s de facto nomination.”

Republican Paul Chabot, a candidate in the 31st Congressional District in San Beardino, said the party will rally around Trump.

“There’s always passion whenever anyone has a candidate in the race,” Chabot said. “The alteative to Trump is Hillary, and that would be devastating.”

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“Absolutely we will rally around Donald Trump,” said Scott Ma, chairman of the Riverside County Republican Party.

He said the vitriol reflects the nature of politics — with social media, a 24-hour news cycle and a long primary season.

“Now that that’s over, with Trump as the presumptive nominee, he will moderate,” Ma said. “He will truly become more presidential and temper his Idea.”

But the prospect of taking on Trump is sure to hearten Clinton supporters, with a number of polls showing she can beat the billionaire businessman.

“Trump caot win on his own appeal, but there are three things that could still hurt Clinton: an economic downtu, a national security debacle or a scandal,” said Jack Pitney, a professor of politics at Claremont McKea College.

Chabot, who is ruing against Democratic incumbent Pete Aguilar, said he doesn’t expect the national race to affect the local one.

Chabot said voters are more conceed with the terrorism that hit San Beardino on Dec. 2 and the high murder rate in the city.

“The pivotal issues are what voters care about,” Chabot said.

Staff writer Alejandra Molina contributed to this report.