Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Monday said California is going to be influential in choosing the Republican presidential nominee.
“I am going to say a sentence that has not been said in 50 years,” Cruz said during a rally in California.
{mosads}”California is going to decide the Republican nomination for president.”
Cruz urged California voters to unify behind his campaign, saying he is the candidate who can beat Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton in a general election.
During the rally, Cruz also hit GOP front-runner Donald Trump, touting his own recent victories. He said when Trump loses, he yells, screams and whines in response.
“And some late night fevered tweeting,” Cruz added.
“And the latest thing he seized upon is when people vote against him, they’re stealing the election. It’s a really odd notion,” he said.
“‘What is this democracy of which you speak. You mean voters get to vote?'” Cruz said, imitating Trump.
Trump’s campaign slammed Cruz following the Texas senator’s recent win in the Wisconsin primary, calling him “worse than a puppet” and saying he is being “used by party bosses attempting to steal the nomination from Mr. Trump.”
Trump is ahead of Cruz in California by 6.8 points, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls. He takes 38.3 percent, while Cruz takes 31.5 percent. The California Republican presidential primary will be held on June 7.