Donald Trump tops bad week in his campaign with big loss in Wisconsin

Ted Cruz surged to a 20-point win in the Republican presidential primary.

(Getty Images)

Donald Trump’s defeat in Wisconsin seems a fitting way to end one of the worst periods of a presidential campaign that, until now, appeared virtually impervious to attack. The billionaire took a beating from his Republican rival, Ted Cruz, losing by what looked to be a 20-point margin in a state that awards the vast majority of its delegates to the victor.

The loss comes after a week in which Mr Trump endorsed “punishment” for women who have abortions, a position considered extreme even in pro-life circles, and one he swiftly recanted. His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was charged with battery for manhandling a female reporter; Mr Trump refuted the woman’s claims regardless of video evidence.

Meanwhile, reports from inside the Trump campaign portray an organisation which, despite its string of primary victories, is understaffed, embattled and exhausted. Many of its personnel have been laid off and, of the few that remain, many are inexperienced. While Mr Trump is still well ahead in national polls, it is Mr Cruz who has – however briefly – seized the momentum.

Simple mathematics make it impossible for the Texas Senator to overtake Mr Trump during primary season. But with Wisconsin lost, the odds are ever longer on the property mogul securing sufficient delegates to claim the nomination ahead of the GOP convention in July – even if, as expected, he wins the crucial primaries in New York and Pennsylvania later this month.

In recent days, Mr Cruz enlisted his wife Heidi and mother Eleanor Darragh to join him on the campaign trail, pressing his advantage with women voters put off by The Donald’s conspicuous misogyny. Mr Trump was roundly criticized for his recent Twitter attacks on Ms Cruz, including a tweet that juxtaposed an unflattering image of her with a glamorous image of his own wife, Melania.

Yet Badger State Republicans were suspicious of Mr Trump long before his latest sexism controversy. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, once considered a leading 2016 candidate, was one of the first casualties of the Trump phenomenon, but remains highly popular with Republicans in his own state. He endorsed Mr Cruz last week.

Wisconsin could return to haunt Mr Trump should the Republican presidential race end in a brokered convention. There is rising speculation that a contest between Mr Trump and Mr Cruz in Cleveland could be complicated by a new candidate throwing their hat in the ring.

That candidate could be Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives and Mitt Romney’s running mate in 2012. Any such run-off would be orchestrated by Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee. Both Mr Ryan and Mr Preibus began their political careers in – you guessed it – Wisconsin.