Cincinnati

Could Ted Cruz win Ohio?

The state's Republicans vote March 15 in their presidential primary - a winner-take-all primary now getting more and more national attention. It may sound absurd, but here are four reasons the Texas Senator could actually win the state's 66 delegates.

1. Momentum. The Super Saturday contests suggested Republicans have started to coalesce around Cruz as the only option to stop Trump. He won in Kansas and Maine and came close in Kentucky and Louisiana. He is now within 84 delegates of frontrunner Donald Trump. Tuesday's elections could cement him as the alternative.

2. Northern Kentucky. Cincinnati's suburban counties - Butler, Warren and Clermont - are a treasure trove of Republicans. How might they vote? For an indication, see Kentucky's Republican presidential caucus held Saturday. Though Trump won the state, the three suburban Cincinnati counties in Northern Kentucky - Boone, Kenton and Campbell - all went for Cruz.

3. The polls. The most recent poll of Ohio Republicans was released Feb. 23; it showed Trump leading Ohio Gov. John Kasich 31 percent to 26 percent. Cruz was in third place but only five points behind Kasich at 21 percent - within striking distance of both. Kasich remains popular among Ohio Republicans, with a 77 percent favorability ratings; Cruz was second at 60 percent.

4. 2012. Could an anti-establishment, socially conservative Republican win an Ohio primary? For an indication, look at 2012. That's when Rick Santorum nearly knocked off frontrunner and establishment candidate Mitt Romney in Ohio's March 6 primary. Santorum lost by less than one percentage point.