Donald Trump scored a decisive victory in the Indiana Republican primary on Tuesday, performing so well that his opponent Sen. Ted Cruz effectively dropped out of the race shortly after primary results were posted. In the wake of Trump's big win, one key stat stands out.

Gage Skidmore / Flickr - flickr.com

Exit polls show that more than half of Indiana Republican voters preferred a candidate who they believe can “bring needed change” and “tell it like it is,” ABC News reports. In fact, among those who are looking for a president who would "tell it like it is," Trump won nine out of 10 votes. 

Trump illustrated his popularity with these types of voters in the last couple days. For instance, less than 24 hours before Indiana voters headed to the polls, he accused Cruz' father of playing a role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Then, later, in his victory speech on Tuesday, Trump emphasized that Americans will "start saying 'Merry Christmas' again" if he's elected. (Many socially conservative Christians are concerned with the societal trend towards saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas.")

The front-runner’s off-the-cuff campaign style and rhetoric played well in Indiana, just as it has nationally. 

“In all of the states, Trump has won with voters who support his ability to ‘tell it like it is’ and want the next president to be from outside the political establishment,” The New York Times reports.

The New York Times - nytimes.com

Cruz scored wins with two-thirds of voters who said they wanted a candidate who shared their values, but apparently, there weren't enough of those voters to change the course of the election on Tuesday.

RELATED: Ted Cruz Announced That He's Suspending His Presidential Campaign