[SeekAndFind]

Ben Domenech of the Federalist writes:

There have been plenty of examples of Ted Cruz being a savvy tactician during the 2016 cycle, but this Colorado disaster for Trump was not one of them, any more than Trump irritating everyone on the abortion issue was Cruz’s fault, or Trump driving up his negatives with women to “you will never get this rose” territory was Cruz’s fault.

This is another own-goal where America’s king of the deal seems uninterested in doing the actual work to make the deal happen. Even a modicum of preparation could’ve landed Trump several delegates from Colorado – instead, he and his team appear uninterested in doing the work everyone has been reporting for weeks that they need to do in order to win.

For their part, the Trump team is vowing to win a delegate majority before the convention. But they have now experienced serious setbacks in South Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, North Dakota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Georgia.

In each of these cases, Trump’s setbacks would not have been as significant if he had simply paid attention to how the delegate process works.

[skeeter]

I'm wondering what the h*ll Paul Manafort is doing - playing golf?

I suspect there's some behind the scenes stuff going on.

[fooman]

According to Morris and stone, trump just does not want to spend the money

[FreeReign]

In each of these cases, Trump’s setbacks would not have been as significant if he had simply paid attention to how the delegate process works.

Win 37% of the vote, then don't work to pick up your delegates.

Rally your supporters, claim the system is fixed, go third party, and give Hillary the win.

It's as if that were the scenario.

[Mase]

Good points all. For some unknown reason, Trump has allowed the state organizations he created to fall apart after the primary. Had he kept these in place, and hired people to look after the delegates, he would not find himself in this position. Trump's cheapness is notorious and he is trying to win on the cheap. He has just 90 paid staff while Hillary is running with more than 700.

I was talking with a Florida delegate this morning who is baffled by the Trump campaign's total inattention to what is happening in the state since the primary. Florida's delegates are bound to Trump until the third ballot, so maybe it's not so important here, but you see what is happening in other states and you begin wondering if he's really willing to spend the money necessary to win the election. This, to me, is the biggest question right now that no one is asking.

[ClovisBob]

Logic doesn’t work with this crowd. It’s a conspiracy.