Ted Cruz drops presidential bid, gives Donald Trump clear path to nomination

Ted Cruz has suspended his campaign, putting Donald Trump in the driver seat as the presumptive GOP nominee for president.

"From the beginning, I said I would continue on as long as there was a viable path to victory," Cruz said during a speech Tuesday night. "Tonight, I'm sorry to say that path appears foreclosed." 

The announcement came as Trump easily defeated Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich in Indiana's primary. Trump still needs about 200 delegates to formally secure the nomination, but Cruz's decision to end his campaign removed his last major obstacle.

Not long after Cruz's announcement, Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, tweeted that Trump is now the presumptive GOP nominee for president.

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For his part, Kasich posted on Facebook that he intends to continue his candidacy until a candidate officially crossed the necessary threshold to earn the nomination, though his turnout has been so low, he remains in fourth place, behind both Cruz and Marco Rubio, in delegate totals. 

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NBC reports that the Trump campaign has started vetting VP candidates. 

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Some anti-Trump forces are still pledging to fight against the front-runner's nomination at the GOP national convention in Cleveland in late July. 

Even before the Indiana results were finalized, some conservative leaders were planning a Wednesday meeting to assess the viability of launching a third party candidacy to compete with him in the fall.

One outside group trying to stop Trump suggested it would shift its attention to helping Republicans in other races. Rory Cooper, a senior adviser to the Never Trump super PAC, said the group will help protect "Republican incumbents and down-ballot candidates by distinguishing their values and principles from that of Trump and protecting them from a wave election."

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Trump seemed subdued on Tuesday night during his victory speech, praising Cruz as a "tough, smart" competitor and pledging to bring the Republican party together ahead of the general election. 

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Now, Trump and likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton plunge into a six-month battle for the presidency, with the future of America's immigration laws, health care system and military posture around the world at stake. While Clinton heads into the general election with significant advantages with minority voters and women, Democrats have vowed to not underestimate Trump as his Republican rivals did for too long.

Previewing Clinton's general election message, top adviser John Podesta said Trump was "simply too big of a risk" to be president.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.

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