You’ve heard the news by now: Ted Cruz is going to let John Kasich take a clear shot at Oregon and New Mexico in exchange for Kasich getting the heck out of the Indiana primary. It’s a trade that Cruz needed, and it’s gonna scramble all the calculations, in Cruz’s favor. It also suggests that the ‘vote for whoever’s ahead: Cruz or Kasich’ state strategic voting rule is now in full effect everywhere else.

…Damn. It actually now makes sense for me to vote Kasich for the primary, and pick all of Cruz’s delegates. Kasich is ahead of Cruz in Maryland, and my county executive endorsed Kasich; but on a second ballot those delegates go straight to Cruz anyway. Huh. Why, I can live with that. Again, damn.

Moe Lane

PS: Why are they announcing this? I DON’T KNOW WHY THEY’RE HAVING THIS LOUD STRATEGY CONVERSATION – OH, HELLO, MISTERS SUPER-PACS. HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? – IN SUCH A PUBLIC FASHION. SURELY, IT IS A MYSTERY WHY TWO CANDIDATES WHO ARE FORBIDDEN TO COORDINATE WITH SUPER-PACS CUTTING ADS ON THOSE CANDIDATES’ BEHALF WOULD BE SO VOCAL IN THEIR THEORIZING…