“Et tu, Schweppe?”

A Shakespeare you may be, but a Michael Barone not so much.

Without a doubt, Donald Trump had a stellar Tuesday night and drew closer to the nomination. But don’t get out the “Make America Great Again!” party horns just yet. Trump is still almost 281 delegates away from securing the nomination and the hill will be steeper than you think.

“These are not margins that can be explained away by geography or demographics. These margins are a symptom of a campaign that has now concluded.”

I’d agree except that these margins were similar to Trump’s margins in other states in the Northeast: Massachussetts (+31), New York (+35), and New Hampshire (+20).

Also, you’re from the Midwest. You had an opportunity to turn the tables on all those elitists from the Northeast that can’t tell the difference between Illinois and Ohio, and instead you give them the benefit of the doubt?

All five of these states are very similar in demographics and voting trends. Don’t believe me? Tell me the last time that Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, or Rhode Island voted for the Republican nominee in November.

Concluded? There are 583 delegates left. You know where almost 30 percent of them are located? In California, where Carly Fiorina — Cruz’s pick for VP who garnered 4.2 million votes there in 2010 — is from. You don’t think that will have an effect on the outcome there?

If Trump underperforms in California, Indiana, and West Virginia, he will not reach the 1,237 threshold. If Trump bombs in California, he will head into the convention needing over 100 delegates to come to his side. With the divisive and inflammatory campaign that Trump has run — along with his embrace of allowing men in women’s restrooms and his calling for changes to the party platform to endorse the ending of some pre-born lives — I don’t think Trump is a shoo-in.

That all being said, Cruz needs to stop talking process and start talking policy — specifically economic policy and how electing him will make Americans better off than electing Trump.

“For Schweppe, as you know, was Cruz’s angel.

Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cruz lov’d him!

This was the most unkindest cut of all;

For when the noble Cruz saw him stab,

Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms,

Quite vanquish’d him: then burst his mighty

heart. . . .”

Terry Schilling is the executive director of American Principles Project.