Trump takes it up a level

It's unclear if Donald Trump will secure the 1,237 delegates he needs ahead of July's Republican Convention in Cleveland to ensure his party will automatically nominate him for president (although he still could). His impressive victory on Super Tuesday in the northeastern states, however, allows him to reach the convention with a strong electoral tailwind that affords him immunity from any attempt by the establishment to rob him of the nomination.

In the 40 states that have held primary elections to this point, Trump has won 954 delegates (compared to just 562 for Ted Cruz and 151 for John Kasich). Some 10 million people have voted for Trump in the primaries thus far (6.8 million for Cruz, 3.6 million for Kasich). This makes Trump a billionaire in money and a millionaire in votes.

These numbers are certainly hard to argue with. Trump's success at the voting stations -- particularly in the final six states, including New York a week ago -- where he received over 50% of the votes, paves his path as he begins to assume a presidential demeanor. In order to reach 1,237 delegates, Trump needs 48% of the remaining primary votes. California alone, which Trump is expected to win, provides 172 delegates and still looms ahead. It's certainly doable. Cruz, on the other hand, needs 119% of the remaining votes.

The Indiana primaries next week are the key. If Trump wins there as well, it will be game over.

We appear to have reached the end of the beginning (the primaries), or rather the beginning of the end (the elections). Based on the exchange of "compliments" between Trump and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton after Super Tuesday's results came in, they also seem to understand it's over. Incidentally, in light of these hearty "compliments," one might worry the three debates they have scheduled will only be suitable for an audience 18 and up. Let's just say, it will probably be less than elegant.

By delivering a speech on American foreign policy in Washington on Wednesday, Trump chose to elevate his status another level. The location wasn't a coincidence. Nor were the American flags in the background. For the second time since speaking at the AIPAC convention, Trump read from a script. It was tough yet focused. What he said was the United States under his leadership can be expected to do a U-turn. Current President Barack Obama is far from being a model to emulate. The same can be said for former President George W. Bush. Trump wants a fair, strong, reliable America, but one that isn't taken for a fool. And he also considers Israel its most faithful ally.

The pundits in the U.S. can't understand why Trump didn't give this speech eight months ago. It's possible he could have spared himself some of the media's wrath. Then again, perhaps being so politically incorrect helped him in the beginning. Now he's changing his style to win at the end.

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