WASHINGTON — Republican Ted Cruz defeated Donald Trump in Kansas and looked to blunt the front-runner's showing elsewhere as voters in five states had their say in weekend presidential nominating contests.
Benefiting from a caucus system that requires organization from campaigns and commitment from voters, Cruz took the first prize Saturday with his Kansas win.
Because delegates will be awarded proportionally in the weekend races, Trump's GOP rivals and Hillary Clinton's Democratic opponent, Bernie Sanders, had limited opportunity to curb the drive of the front-runners toward the nominations.
Larger contests ahead, with winner-take-all delegate prizes, afford more of that chance.
Cruz was collecting at least 17 delegates for winning Kansas, with Trump taking at least six.
