Stephanie Wang, and Chelsea Schneider

IndyStar

Ohio Gov. John Kasich will step back from campaign efforts in Indiana, forging a partnership with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in an attempt to block Donald Trump from earning the Republican nomination for president, the Kasich and Cruz campaigns announced late Sunday.

"We are very comfortable with our delegate position in Indiana already, and given the current dynamics of the primary there, we will shift our campaign's resources West and give the Cruz campaign a clear path in Indiana," Kasich for America chief strategist John Weaver said in a statement.

"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," Cruz for President Campaign Manager Jeff Roe said in a statement, "and in turn clear the path for Gov. Kasich to compete in Oregon and New Mexico, and we would hope that allies of both campaigns would follow our lead."

Kasich was scheduled to visit Indiana on Tuesday, ahead of the May 3 primary. Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, co-chair of Kasich's Indiana campaign, said the candidate cancelled all Indiana events.

"Kasich is asking his supporters in Indiana to vote for Cruz so Trump does not win Indiana, and Cruz will do the same" in Oregon and New Mexico, Brainard told IndyStar, to prevent splitting anti-Trump votes.

Clinton to make campaign stop Tuesday in Indiana

The campaigns believe the move will help block Trump from winning the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination outright. Indiana has 57 delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this summer. Those representing Indiana's congressional districts must vote for the candidate who wins in the district, and at-large delegates must vote for the candidate who wins the state. But if no candidate reaches the 1,237-delegate threshold, the nomination would go to a second ballot, where delegates could vote as they please.

Many of Indiana's delegates polled by IndyStar have indicated that they would not support Trump — instead siding with Kasich.

And the Indiana winner for president is … John Kasich?

"Our goal is to have an open convention in Cleveland, where we are confident a candidate capable of uniting the (Republican) Party and winning in November will emerge as the nominee," the Kasich campaign statement said.

Recent polls show Kasich trailing Trump and Cruz in Indiana, but a Fox News poll reported that Trump's lead over Cruz in Indiana narrows if Kasich withdraws.

While they forged this partnership for the three states, both campaigns said they would still compete in primaries in other states.

Cruz kicked off his campaign in the state last week, with a visit to Indianapolis on Thursday. He continued to campaign across Indiana over the weekend, and is expected to make more stops Monday.

Trump also began courting Indiana voters last week, drawing roughly 4,000 people to a public rally at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. A Trump spokesman did not immediately return a message from IndyStar seeking comment.

Star reporter Chris Sikich contributed to this report. Call Star reporter Stephanie Wang at (317) 444-6184. Follow her on Twitter: @stephaniewang.

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Polls: Trump, Clinton lead in Indiana - but not by much