Indiana GOP Primary: Donald Trump Projected to Win
— -- ABC News projects Donald Trump will win the Indiana Republican primary, based on exit poll data and the vote in so far.
Trump will have scooped up his 28th win in a state or primary contest tonight, delivering a blow to the Ted Cruz campaign and the anti-Trump movement.
Indiana was an crucial opportunity for Cruz to stop Trump from reaching the 1,237 number of delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination before the convention this summer. Cruz announced Tuesday night he's suspending his campaign.
Following news of Trump's projected Indiana win, Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, tweeted that Trump "will be presumptive @GOP nominee, we all need to unite and focus on defeating @HillaryClinton #NeverClinton"
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who cannot clinch the nomination before the convention because of his shortage in delegates, will continue on, according to his top strategist, John Weaver.
"Tonight’s results are not going to alter Gov. Kasich’s campaign plans," Weaver wrote in a memo sent out tonight after Trump was projected as the winner. "Our strategy has been and continues to be one that involves winning the nomination at an open convention."
Nearly half of Indiana GOP primary voters made up their minds over a month ago about who they would vote for, according to preliminary exit polls, and they voted for Trump over Cruz by more than 2-1.
Large support for an outsider candidate in the Hoosier State boosted Trump’s lead.
Furthermore, preliminary exit polls show Trump’s supporters are more excited than Cruz’s about the prospect of their candidate winning the presidency.
ABC News Analysis Desk and Alana Abramson contributed to this report.
