burlingame calif. u.s. presidential candidate ted cruz make plea california republican party saturday line behind state june primary uphill battle stop front-runner donald trump grab nomination party convention backdrop chaotic protest trump friday cruz try woo party members support long-time issue low tax hard line immigration former california governor pete wilson give cruz endorsement introduce senator texas cruz receive applause convention either trump third-place candidate ohio governor john kasich also speak friday fracture divide hillary clinton win campaign lose say refer democratic party front-runner nov. election white house mathematically eliminate secure nomination first ballot party convention cleveland july cruz aim stop trump receive 1,237 delegate need win nomination outright force contest convention however prospect able grow increasingly slim trump billionaire businessman former reality tv star continue notch win nation nominate contest include five-state sweep late string contest last tuesday cruz downplay severity losses speech saturday look forward upcoming contest say put path thwart trump california go decide republican primary say refer state june contest trump odds party establishment call system nominate candidate rig critics say play fear supporters especially immigration propose temporary ban muslims enter country accuse illegal mexican immigrants rapists criminals thursday friday anti-trump protest erupt outside candidate california events friday force halt motorcade go back entrance hotel give speech convention avoid several hundred loud protesters gather outside cruz hop slow trump march toward nomination indiana primary tuesday state award 57 delegate winner-take-all basis congressional district possibly grant cruz windfall pledge delegate real clear politics poll aggregation state show cruz behind trump 35.2 percent 37.5 percent poll show cruz challenge delegate-rich california lag trump 28.3 percent 45.7 percent indication efforts court state cruz wednesday make unusual move name vice presidential run mate onetime presidential hopeful carly fiorina formerly chief executive california technology company hewlett-packard co. saturday night urge crowd party faithful many back party nominee fail bid u.s. senate 2010 join support cruz dynamic combative speech urge kasich get race challenge idea trump lock nomination donald trump yesterday tell fiorina say 30-yard line touchdown face long odds california cruz court state 's republicans