Today’s Wisconsin vote seen as critical

MILWAUKEE — After Donald Trump’s toughest stretch of the campaign, he and Ted Cruz made spirited final pitches Monday to Wisconsin voters, who will cast ballots today in a Republican primary that both consider a key step in the race for president.

After today, there’s a twoweek lull before the next important voting, in New York.

Trump is facing pressure on multiple fronts following a difficult week marked by his controversial comments, reversals and rare moments of contrition. While his past remarks on topics like Mexican immigrants have drawn a backlash, even he appeared to recognize the damage caused by missteps in the lead-up to Wisconsin.

Those included retweeting an unf lattering photo of Cruz’s wife and a series of contradictory comments on abortion that managed to draw condemnation from both abortion rights activists and opponents.

While Trump is the only Republican with a realistic path to clinching the nomination ahead of the Republican convention, a big loss in Wisconsin would greatly reduce his chances of reaching the needed 1,237 delegates before then. A big win for Trump would give him more room for error down the stretch.

He’s facing a tough challenge from Cruz, whom polls show with a lead in Wisconsin. And he has been battered by negative ads. The state’s top Republican advertiser has been Our Principles PAC, which pumped almost $1.3 million into anti-Trump ads. The Club for Growth, which has endorsed Cruz, is spending $800,000 on ads that promote voting for Cruz — not John Kasich — as the best way to ensure a Trump defeat.

All 28 delegates will go to the national convention as free agents. But in interviews, 10 said they were committed to vote for Cruz. A few others said they were leaning toward him.

None has endorsed Trump so far.