Ted Cruz: Donald Trump may encourage riots at contested GOP convention

Keep clicking for an explanation of what happens at a contested convention.



Sen. Ted Cruz said in an interview aired Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation that GOP frontrunner Donald Trump "may do everything he can to encourage riots" if he loses at a contested convention. less Keep clicking for an explanation of what happens at a contested convention.



Sen. Ted Cruz said in an interview aired Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation that GOP frontrunner Donald Trump "may do everything he can ... more Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Ted Cruz: Donald Trump may encourage riots at contested GOP convention 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Anticipation continues to heat up for trouble — or disaster — at the Republican Party's national convention in Cleveland in July.

If no winner emerges in the primary vote, the assembly of delegates will pick a winner, and it may not be front runner Donald Trump.

RELATED: Prospect emerges for GOP convention chaos

For Sen. Ted Cruz, an upset win at the convention remains the only hope of nabbing the nomination. In an interview aired Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation, host John Dickerson asked Cruz, "won't that lead to riots" if the convention goes against the primary vote?

"No, it won't," Cruz said. "Although Donald may do everything he can to encourage riots."

In March, Trump predicted riots at the convention if he entered with the most delegates and left without the nomination. Many critics alleged that Trump's pronouncement amounted to subtle encouragement to his supporters.

RELATED: Speaker Ryan: Trump's riot predictions 'unacceptable'

Even before that, Cruz had said there would be a "manifest revolt" if the convention subverts the primary process. That was referring to a slightly different scenario — a "brokered," not just contested convention — and it was before Cruz needed a contested convention to win.

Now, the two leading GOP candidates have taken divergent paths toward the nomination. Trump aims to cross the 1,237-delegate threshold needed to win the nomination outright before the convention. Whether he can do that likely will remain in the air until the nation's last primary in California on June 7.

Meanwhile, the Cruz campaign has dominated the process of nominating convention delegates, and it stands a good chance of winning if the convention goes to a second and third round of voting. Getting there means blocking Trump from an outright win.

RELATED: After N.Y. loss, Cruz officially aims at long slog to contested convention

The New York billionaire has assailed the delegate process in countless TV appearances, calling the system "rigged" against him and alleging that the candidate with the most delegates ahead of the convention — even if without the requisite majority — should win the nomination.

"Majorities matter and it's why Donald wants to change the rules and rig the system," Cruz said on Face the Nation, borrowing the rhetoric his opponent has used to make headlines.

RELATED: Divisive GOP presidential race ventures into unknown territory

He presented a football analogy: "If you're on the 30-yeard line, it's not a touchdown. Donald right now is on the 30-yard line and he wants everyone to say, 'hey the game is over because he's past the 50."

Party leaders stress that long-existing rules prescribe the delegate re-vote at a contested convention if no candidate wins a majority beforehand. They'll face an uphill climb countering the narrative of Trump, who overshadows every other figure in this race with his overwhelming TV air time. He continues to allege that the GOP system is broken and corrupt, and has previously encouraged his supporters to protest.

The Associated Press reported Sunday that a coalition of outside groups are fundraising and organize to bring as many Trump supporters as possible to Cleveland under a social media campaign called "Stop the Steal"--a reference to a possible upset win at the convention.

The City of Cleveland recently bought 2,000 sets of police riot armor and 2,500 interlocking steel barricades in preparation for the July convention.