Ted Cruz says nominating Donald Trump 'would be a train wreck' as he looks for victory in Wisconsin

Ted Cruz has a decent lead ahead of Tuesday's contest in the Mid West

Mr Cruz said nominating Mr Trump would be a 'train wreck' (AP)

Ted Cruz is seeking to rally women voters against Donald Trump as the two men prepare for what could be a crucial electoral battle in Wisconsin.

Mr Cruz turned to his wife and mother over the weekend to help push his message that women voters do not like Mr Trump, especially after his recent controversial comments about abortion.

An average of polls collated by Real Clear Politics suggests Mr Cruz has a lead of around seven points ahead of the New York tycoon. It puts Mr Cruz on 40 points, Mr Trump on 33, and Ohio Governor John Kasich on 18.

Trump: ‘I will be so presidential that you won’t even recognise me’ (Getty)

The Texas senator, speaking to supporters on Sunday in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was eager to take a swipe at Mr Trump.

According to Reuters, he said that more and more Republicans were recognising, that “nominating Donald Trump would be a train wreck - and thats not fair to train wrecks. And that nominating Donald Trump elects Hillary Clinton. Hillary wins and she wins by double digits”.

Mr Trump, who finds himself in the unusual position of having to try and come from behind, claimed that he would surprise those who believe he is set to lose.

“We’re having unbelievable response in Wisconsin,” Mr Trump said, during a visit to a Milwaukee diner.

“And it feels very much like New Hampshire to me, where we started off where, you know, Trump wasn’t going to win New Hampshire, and then all of a sudden, we win in a landslide.”

Wisconsin has become an unexpected battleground for Mr Trump and the coalition of forces desperately aligning against him, with Tuesday’s primary emerging as a key moment that could reshape the Republican nominating contest both mathematically and psychologically. For the Republicans, a total of 42 delegates are up for grabs.

On the Democratic side, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is trying to hold on to a slender lead over front-runner Hillary Clinton in the opinion polls in Wisconsin and eke out another victory over the former secretary of state.

An average of polls collated by Real Clear Politics puts Mr Sanders on 47, and Ms Clinton on 45.