PHOTO: AFP/Getty Images

Now playing

01:56

Trump slams Cruz and Kasich over delegates pact

electioneering explainer danny cevallos orig_00001425.jpg

Now playing

01:13

States can actually limit free speech on Election Day

PHOTO: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally with democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at University of New Hampshire on September 28, 2016 in Durham, New Hampshire.

Now playing

03:00

Remembering the campaigns we lost

PHOTO: Getty Images

Now playing

02:10

They made it to the White House despite scandals

PHOTO: Getty Images

history of the october surprise foreman ac pkg_00005811.jpg

Now playing

02:14

The history of the October surprise

Now playing

04:02

36 years of election nights on CNN

Now playing

01:15

Watch 10 elections get called on CNN in one minute

PHOTO: CNN

hillary clinton rally daytona beach fbi investigation sot_00002801.jpg

Now playing

00:57

Clinton calls FBI director's actions unprecedented

trump voter id podesta fact check origwx bw_00004624.jpg

Now playing

02:16

Fact check: Trump on undocumented immigrants and voting

hillary clinton rally time lapse origwx bw_00004417.jpg

Now playing

01:21

Hillary Clinton's historic night in time-lapse

PHOTO: John Moore/Getty Images North America/Getty Images

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 23: Anthony Weiner, a leading candidate for New York City mayor, stands with his wife Huma Abedin during a press conference on July 23, 2013 in New York City. Weiner addressed news of new allegations that he engaged in lewd online conversations with a woman after he resigned from Congress for similar previous incidents. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Now playing

02:01

Clinton's history with Anthony Weiner

PHOTO: CNN

Many North Carolina voters remain undecided in upcoming presidential election_00001405.jpg

Now playing

02:15

Some North Carolina voters hesitant to pick a candidate

PHOTO: CNN

joe biden hillary clinton election intv sot smerconish _00000000.jpg

Now playing

00:46

Biden: I thought I could beat Hillary Clinton

cnnee pkg rodriguez clinton global iniciative hillary emails_00002301.jpg

Now playing

02:47

Hillary Clinton's explanations of her email saga

PHOTO: The Guardian

Now playing

01:17

Gary Johnson snaps at reporter

PHOTO: Mark Makela/Getty Images North America

Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and US Vice President Joe Biden acknowledge the crowd at Riverfront Sports athletic facility on August 15, 2016 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Now playing

01:26

Biden on Clinton's Secretary of State list?

Story highlights

Mel Robbins: Kasich, Cruz teaming up to deny Trump votes for nomination. It'll backfire on GOP

She says strategy too complicated, asks voters to avoid someone who's winning. GOP, face facts

Editor’s Note: Mel Robbins is a CNN commentator, legal analyst, best-selling author and keynote speaker. In 2014, she was named outstanding news talk-radio host by the Gracie Awards. This op-ed includes language that some might find offensive. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

(CNN) —

The gloves are off.

In what will either go down in history as a brilliant strategy shift or an embarrassing, losing gambit, GOP opponents John Kasich and Ted Cruz have announced they are joining forces to take down their common rival, Donald Trump.

Trump’s response was fast and “on brand.” In a tweet he wrote that it was desperation for the two to “collude in order to keep me from getting the Republican nomination.”

For months pundits and politicians have speculated that there would be backroom dealings aimed at denying Trump a first-ballot win and a brokered Republican Convention this summer. That speculation is over; there is going to be a public brawl. You thought politics couldn’t get more interesting, nasty or sink any lower.

This is like two parents divorcing and begging the kids to pick favorites. It’s public, it’s ugly, it’s confusing – and it’s going to blow up in Kasich’s, Cruz’s and the GOP’s face.

What on earth is the Republican Party doing?

Once again, on all things strategy, Trump is 100% correct. Is this an act of too-late desperation? Yup. Is it collusion? Textbook. And how are Cruz and Kasich joining forces? “Game of Thrones” style: They are trading states to consolidate delegates, in hope of beating their common enemy, Trump.

Kasich is telling his voters to back Cruz in Indiana, and likewise, Cruz will not compete against Kasich in Oregon and New Mexico.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit on April 18, 2015, in Nashua, New Hampshire. The summit was attended by all the 2016 Republican candidates as well as those eying a run for the nomination. Click through for more on the political career of Kasich:

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: Darren McCollester/Getty Images

Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit on April 18, 2015, in Nashua, New Hampshire. The summit was attended by all the 2016 Republican candidates as well as those eying a run for the nomination. Click through for more on the political career of Kasich:

Kasich speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 28, 2012, in Florida.

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Kasich speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on August 28, 2012, in Florida.

Kasich, left, and then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney talk with students during a roundtable discussion at Otterbein University on April 27, 2012 in Westerville, Ohio. Romney eventually won the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: Jay LaPrete/Getty Images

Kasich, left, and then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney talk with students during a roundtable discussion at Otterbein University on April 27, 2012 in Westerville, Ohio. Romney eventually won the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Kasich, left, President Barack Obama, center, and Republican House Speaker John Boehner play the first hole of a golf game on June 18, 2011, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Kasich, left, President Barack Obama, center, and Republican House Speaker John Boehner play the first hole of a golf game on June 18, 2011, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Kasich listens to Obama speak during a bipartisan meeting of governors hosted by the President and Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House on February 28, 2010.

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images

Kasich listens to Obama speak during a bipartisan meeting of governors hosted by the President and Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House on February 28, 2010.

Before officially taking office as governor of Ohio, Kasich talks with reporters after meeting with House and Senate Republican leaders at the U.S. Capitol on December 1, 2010. The GOP leaders talked about ways to create jobs, cut spending and repeal the health care law.

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Before officially taking office as governor of Ohio, Kasich talks with reporters after meeting with House and Senate Republican leaders at the U.S. Capitol on December 1, 2010. The GOP leaders talked about ways to create jobs, cut spending and repeal the health care law.

Kasich, right, then a member of the U.S. House, sports "Bush" baseball caps with Texas Gov. George W. Bush on July 14, 1999. The two lawmakers held a news conference at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington during Bush

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: WILLIAM PHILPOTT/AFP/Getty Images

Kasich, right, then a member of the U.S. House, sports "Bush" baseball caps with Texas Gov. George W. Bush on July 14, 1999. The two lawmakers held a news conference at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington during Bush's presidential run. Kasich had previously announced that he was withdrawing from the 2000 presidential race and endorsed Bush.

U.S. Rep. Kasich delivers a speech in the Watergate complex in Washington on July 9, 1999, during the College Republican National Committee 53rd Biennial Convention. Other speakers included Republican 2000 presidential hopefuls such as Gary Bauer and Elizabeth Dole.

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

U.S. Rep. Kasich delivers a speech in the Watergate complex in Washington on July 9, 1999, during the College Republican National Committee 53rd Biennial Convention. Other speakers included Republican 2000 presidential hopefuls such as Gary Bauer and Elizabeth Dole.

During a U.S. government shutdown, Kasich, left, and Sen. Pete Domenici, R-New Mexico, speak to reporters outside the White House on January 6, 1996.

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP/Getty Images

During a U.S. government shutdown, Kasich, left, and Sen. Pete Domenici, R-New Mexico, speak to reporters outside the White House on January 6, 1996.

Kasich shows a videotape of President Bill Clinton speaking during a news conference on Capitol Hill on December 16, 1995. Kasich was chairman of the House Budget Committee at the time and disputed Clinton

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: PAMELA PRICE/AFP/Getty Images

Kasich shows a videotape of President Bill Clinton speaking during a news conference on Capitol Hill on December 16, 1995. Kasich was chairman of the House Budget Committee at the time and disputed Clinton's position on the budget.

Kasich, center, shows a thank you note in the form of a check to Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, left, and Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole (right) on November 17, 1995, in Washington. They were soon engaged in bruising battles with President Bill Clinton over the federal budget.

Photos: John Kasich's political career

PHOTO: RICHARD ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images

Kasich, center, shows a thank you note in the form of a check to Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, left, and Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole (right) on November 17, 1995, in Washington. They were soon engaged in bruising battles with President Bill Clinton over the federal budget.

There are three research-backed reasons why this won’t work:

1. Research proves people like to back a winner. By joining forces, Cruz and Kasich aren’t becoming the underdogs conservatives root for, they’re highlighting the fact that Trump is the inevitable nominee. That will throw more independents into his camp and push the undecideds. Being the perceived winner is a huge advantage. Example? On Kickstarter, your odds of succeeding are 10 times higher once you reach about half your funding goal. Trump is already there with 845 delegates of the 1,237 that he needs.

2. It’s a turn-off to supporters because of cognitive bias. That is, we seek out information that we agree with. You’ll spend 36% more time reading an article if you agree with it. Our brains actively try to find disagreement with things that we don’t like.

If you like Kasich, you will find reason to dislike Cruz. And vice versa.

If I’m a Kasich fan I won’t suddenly feel good voting for Cruz because my mind is made up: I have already decided Kasich is the best candidate. It will take a rallying of uncontrollable variables to make sure that voters in the states the two candidates are divvying up will stick to the plan, all biases aside.

3. It’s too complicated. Research shows that when we are faced with too many choices or instructions that aren’t clear, we don’t change behavior. And it’s not clear what’s going on. Seasoned political commentators hammer Trump for his lack of substance, but the irony is it’s his simplicity that appeals to many.

There’s nothing simple about this Kasich-Cruz alliance. It translates to voters like this: