Frustration mounting in Ted Cruz camp over perceived 'spoiler' Kasich's impact on Republican primary race

In the final stretch of the 2016 United States presidential election, a heated competition is unfolding between Ted Cruz and John Kasich, both Republican candidates. Cruz, who is running for the Republican nomination, and Kasich, who is also a Republican contender, had previously vied for the party's support in the primaries.

As the race heats up, Cruz has hinted at a contrast with Kasich regarding Kasich's openness towards Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court. Cruz's supporters are emphasizing the need for a landslide victory in Utah to deny Donald Trump any delegates.

Currently, Cruz is ahead of Kasich in the delegate race, though both trail Trump. This advantage, however, may not be enough to secure a majority in Utah, where Cruz is hoping to capture a majority of the vote to win all of the state's delegates. Kasich's presence could be problematic for Cruz in Utah, as Weaver, a Kasich campaign staffer, suggested that Cruz's best states are in his rearview mirror.

Kasich's campaign sent an email updating supporters on his path forward, including expectations for a strong finish in Utah. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, stumped for Kasich in Ohio, while Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox endorsed Cruz at a rally in Provo, Utah.

Cruz has been criticizing John Kasich, stating that a vote for Kasich is a vote for Donald Trump. Cruz reminded attendees at the Provo rally that Romney has stated that John Kasich has no path to winning the nomination. Cruz also suggested that Kasich could keep him from winning more than 50% of the vote, potentially resulting in delegates being awarded on a proportional basis to all three candidates.

The clash between Cruz and Kasich over each candidate's viability is more intense than at any previous point in the race. Kasich's campaign has responded by accusing Cruz of lying and painting him as a weak GOP nominee for the general election. Cruz, however, has avoided criticizing Kasich in other ways, particularly over Kasich's decision to expand Medicaid in Ohio.

This article was written by Matthew McIntosh for The Texas Tribune, with additional reporting from Katie Zezima of The Washington Post. The race between Cruz and Kasich will reach its climax in the Utah Caucus on Tuesday, with the outcome potentially shaping the remainder of the Republican primary.