Donald Trump to attend California GOP convention along with Cruz, Kasich
Donald Trump to attend California GOP convention along
with Cruz, Kasich
By Aaron Kinney, akinney@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 04/15/2016 06:27:35 AM PDT | Updated: about 12 hours ago
BURLINGAME -- With the addition of Donald Trump to the California Republican Party convention this month, the table is set for the most compelling GOP confab in years, if not decades.
Trump, who leads the race to secure the party's presidential nomination, will launch the three-day convention with a lunchtime speech on April 29, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, the state GOP announced.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich will deliver an address that night, and Sen. Ted Cruz, of Texas, will speak the following afternoon.
Harmeet Dhillon, vice chairwoman of the state party, said the prospect of having all three remaining candidates make their pitch at the convention is driving enthusiasm among Republican voters to new heights.
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/liv...01%7E1_300.JPG
Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump visits Griffiss
International Airport during a rally to speak to
supporters, Tuesday, April 12, 2016 in Rome,
New York. (Mark DiOrio/Observer-Dispatch via
Associated Press)
"It's just super-exciting, what can I say?" said Dhillon. "It shows the importance of California to this year's presidential nomination race."
Democrats and Republicans traditionally settle on a presumptive nominee before California's primary in early June. But this year's wild and unpredictable GOP campaign may not be decided until the Republican National Convention in July.
Trump leads the field in California by a comfortable margin, according to a March survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. The real estate magnate and reality TV star garnered the support of 38 percent of likely voters, followed by Cruz with 27 percent and Kasich with 14 percent.
In a brief statement, Trump said as president he would boost California's economy to its full potential.
"A Trump administration is going to be a pro-jobs, pro-economy and pro-entrepreneur administration," he said. "I look forward to being with the great people of California and sharing my vision to 'Make America Great Again.'"
The candidates are already pursuing California delegates, some of whom remain undecided, Dhillon said.
"I think this is a very critical opportunity for each of these candidates to change some hearts and minds," she said.
There are 172 delegates up for grabs in the Golden State, 159 of which will be determined by the outcomes June 7 in each of the state's 53 congressional districts. Whoever wins a given district gets three delegates. The remaining 13 delegates will go to the candidate who secures the most votes statewide.
With so much at stake, Dhillon anticipates the Trump, Cruz and Kasich campaigns may begin cranking out mail and TV advertisements later this spring. The Bay Area could even witness the rare sight of a GOP presidential candidate campaigning in the flesh, she said.
Cruz made a stop in Orange County earlier this week. At a rally Monday in Irvine, Cruz reportedly told supporters, "California is going to decide the Republican nomination."
Contact Aaron Kinney at 650-348-4357. Follow him at Twitter.com/kinneytimes.
http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-...gop-convention
