Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. John Kasich forged a pact to keep front-runner Donald Trump from winning the Republican nomination for the White House, releasing in the late-night hours near-simultaneous statements that said they would divide their campaign efforts among the four state elections in the coming weeks, with each taking two.

Cruz called a Trump ticket a "sure disaster," then said his joint venture with Kasich would pave the way for a Republican victory, CNN reported.

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"To ensure that we nominate a Republican who can unify the Republican Party and win in November, our campaign will focus its time and resources in Indiana and in turn, clear the path for Gov. Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico," Jeff Roe, Cruz's campaign manager, said in a statement, NBC News reported.

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Shortly after, Kasich's campaign released a similar note.

"Our goal is to have an open convention in Cleveland, where we are confident a candidate capable of uniting the party and winning in November will emerge as the nominee," his campaign's chief strategist, John Weaver, wrote.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, reacted with scorn on Twitter.

"Wow," he wrote, "just announced that Lyin' Ted and Kasich are going to collude in order to keep me from getting the Republican nomination. DESPERATION!"

He also called the situation "sad" and the primary process "rigged" in a statement that followed his Twitter post.

"When two candidates who have no path to victory get together to stop a candidate who is expanding the party by millions of voters (all of whom will drop out if I am not in the race), it is yet another example of everything that is wrong in Washington and our political system," he said.

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CNN reported Kasich's campaign has been trying for some time to get the Cruz camp to agree to a joint battle plan to take down Trump. One senior-level Kasich official said the Cruz campaign initially responded with silence, but began to talk a few weeks ago.

Kasich's campaign, meanwhile, has the most to benefit by the union. His campaign wrapped March with only $1.2 million in coffers, CNN reported.