Reality check: Donald Trump is a strong candidate, no matter how much you disagree

Mar 16, 2016, 6:15 AM | Updated: 6:38 am

There may be strong resistance to Donald Trump, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that he is a...

There may be strong resistance to Donald Trump, but it's hard to ignore the fact that he is a viable candidate for the Republican Party, KIRO Radio's Dave Ross points out. (AP)

(AP)

Are we looking at the first contested Republican convention since 1976?

Half of the “Stop Trump” movement failed badly last night when Florida voters knocked Marco Rubio out of the race. But the other half succeeded; Ohio Governor John Kasich decisively won his home state.

“You better believe it’s about America. It’s about pulling us together, not pulling us apart. It is about the USA,” he announced during his victory speech.

Related: The terrain gets more treacherous for Trump’s opponents

In other words, the party now has a real alternative to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

But does it really? CBS Senior Political Editor Steve Chaggaris provided a reality check. He says that no matter how much people don’t want Trump to get the nomination, you can’t ignore the fact that he is a strong candidate.

And if you look at the map, you will notice there isn’t another Ohio for Kasich to win. There isn’t another Texas for Cruz to win. Trump’s challengers have run out of home states and evangelicals. And the contest is now moving on to home states, such as New York.

The party establishment knows it. In fact, the establishment placed a phone call to Mar-a-Lago last night.

“I spoke with Mitch McConnell today, we had a great conversation. The fact is we have to bring our party together,” Trump said. “We have something happening that actually makes the Republican party probably the biggest political story anywhere in the world.”

And to the people who accuse him of tearing the party apart, he says nonsense.

“Millions of people are coming in to vote,” Trump said. “We have a great opportunity. Democrats are coming in, independents are coming in and, very importantly, people are coming in who never voted before.”

He may be tough on immigration, but it turns out political immigrants are perfectly fine.

data centers...

Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin Show

‘Make sure the people that live around it get some love’: Gee and Ursula say WA data centers must pay their way

Washington lawmakers are expected to take up new rules for large data centers next session.

47 minutes ago

prosecutor in Washington...

Associated Press

Faced with influx, prosecutor in Washington says he lacks resources to defend immigration cases

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington said it no longer has the staffing to defend every immigration case.

1 hour ago

woodinville fire...

James Lynch

Woodinville woman tries to rebuild after husband dies trying to rescue her from house fire

A Woodinville woman is trying to rebuild after a house fire killed her husband, Don Webb, and destroyed the home and belongings they shared.

2 hours ago

robbery...

James Lynch

Robbery suspect arrested after barricading himself in Seattle apartment

A suspect was taken into custody early this morning after a reported shoplifting involving a gun, leading authorities to an apartment in Seattle.

2 hours ago

Mississippi...

BILL BARROW and SOPHIE BATES, The Associated Press

Mississippi elects Democrat Scott Colom as state’s first Black US senator since Reconstruction

Democratic nominee Scott Colom has defeated Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi's closely contested U.S. Senate race.

3 hours ago

Kalshi...

Luke Duecy

Bellevue man sues Kalshi for $580,000 as CFTC investigates prediction market

A Bellevue man is suing prediction-market company Kalshi, seeking to recover more than $580,000 he said he lost betting on sporting events.

3 hours ago

Reality check: Donald Trump is a strong candidate, no matter how much you disagree