Report: Cruz might have dropped out if he hadn’t won Texas

The chief strategist for Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz said in a phone call to donors on Wednesday that the Texas senator might have dropped out of the race if he hadn’t won his home state on Super Tuesday.

“Last night, when we were going through the different scenarios on what might occur, the senator asked what if we lose Texas,” Jason Johnson said, according to CNN.

“And I said that’s simple: You don’t have to do it on the stage, but you clearly stand there and remind people that ‘tonight is not a reflection of the ideas, the issues, the vision, etc. But clearly we now have to pull back and pray and think about who we throw our support behind in order to reignite the promise of America — because clearly it ain’t me.'”

“Well there was zero pushback from Ted Cruz,” Johnson added. “You might say it’s a duh. But it’s not a duh.”

Cruz ended up winning the state handily, beating front-runner Donald Trump 44 to 27 percent.

The report comes amid speculation that Cruz’s rivals Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) may not win their home states. Kasich has said he’ll exit the race if he loses in Ohio.

During a speech after his victory in Texas Tuesday night, Cruz suggested that he has the best chance of beating Trump and that the other candidates should drop out and throw their support behind him. 

“For the candidates who have not yet won a state, who have not racked up significant delegates, I ask you to prayerfully consider coming together, uniting,” Cruz said.