Donald Trump is doubling down on Wisconsin. Following a rough week that included battling with the state's Republican establishment and drawing fire over his comments on abortion, the real estate mogul and GOP presidential front-runner predicted a surprise win in Wisconsin's Tuesday primary. "I would tell you, I think this has the feel of a victory," Trump told reporters Sunday during a campaign stop at a Milwaukee diner. "This has the feel of a victory." Several polls released over the past week showed him trailing U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in Wisconsin, but Trump pointed to a recent Public Policy Polling survey showing the two of them virtually tied. After entering Miss Katie's Diner, a longtime Milwaukee stop for visiting politicians, Trump declared it "my kind of place." He waved. He shook hands. He posed for photographs with the other diners. Afterward, he and his campaign team settled into a table near the heart of the diner. As his hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and plate of eggs, bacon and hash browns grew cold in front of him, he fielded questions, including on the GOP race, the Republican establishment's effort to block him from becoming the nominee and his chances of winning in Wisconsin. Trump on Sunday also called on Ohio Gov. John Kasich to drop out of the Republican presidential race. He insisted that Kasich, who's only won his home state so far, shouldn't be allowed to continue accumulating delegates because he has no chance of being the nominee. "He's taking my votes," Trump said. He said that Kasich's decision to stay in the race is creating obstacles for his campaign, disputing the idea that Cruz is the one suffering most from his continued bid. "Kasich shouldn't be allowed to run. Honestly Kasich should not be allowed to run," Trump said. "It's very unfair that Kasich stays in, is my opinion." When asked, Trump acknowledged that he raised his concerns in a meeting last Thursday with Republican National Committee head Reince Priebus. Kasich spokesman Chris Schrimpf quickly pushed back on Trump's comments. "Ted Cruz also has no possibility of accumulating enough delegates, and Trump also will not receive a majority of delegates before the convention. Since he thinks it's such a good idea, we look forward to Trump dropping out before the convention," Schrimpf said in a statement. "Trump living up to his own self-declared standard is best for the party since he will lose the White House by a historic margin to Hillary Clinton and also cause Republicans to lose control of the Senate." On Sunday, Trump said Cruz is not a good fit for Wisconsin. And he again criticized the Republican establishment and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whom he blamed for the state's lagging job creation numbers. Trump also slammed conservative talk show host Charlie Sykes as a "lowlife" and said establishment Republicans and Walker were mobilizing against him here as political payback. "Charlie Sykes is a lowlife. Charlie Sykes is a guy who is not a real believer, he wants the establishment to win because it's good for his third-rate show," Trump said. "He's not a smart man, he's actually a dumb man. He's a dummy." Sykes responded by questioning Trump's priorities. "I believe he was quoting Abraham Lincoln," Sykes said. "Seriously though, he took time out from talking about ISIS, the war on terror, international trade, immigration and the economy, to talk about me? A talk-show host who asked him some questions? Kind of sad. But kind of typical."

• published: 04 Apr 2016
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