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Donald Trump was not the first choice of Republican voters in Oklahoma’s March 1 presidential primary, but state GOP officials are optimistic he will be by Nov. 8, when the next president of the United States is elected.

“We see some people move toward #neverTrump and things like that, but they are realizing the consequences will be too great if we don’t get behind our nominee,” said state party Chairwoman Pam Pollard.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz finished first in the Oklahoma primary, 6 percentage points ahead of Trump — now the presumptive GOP nominee — and 8 points ahead of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

By most accounts, Cruz also had the best organization in Oklahoma, and his supporters will make up the preponderance of candidates to the state GOP convention Friday night and Saturday in Oklahoma City.

Cruz’s proposed running mate, Carly Fiorina, is headlining a Friday night fundraising dinner. Fiorina agreed to the event before she joined up with Cruz, but it’s still a coincidence that plays into what, until a couple of weeks ago, seemed likely to be a Cruz-themed convention.