“In this election, there’s only one candidate who will uphold he Constitution”, Gingrich said “So, to paraphrase Ted Cruz: if you want to protect the Constitution, the only candidate this fall is the Trump-Pence Republican ticket”.
Advertisement
Conservative radio host Laura Ingraham made a rousing speech early in the night, chastising Cruz and other GOP Trump holdouts, saying, “Even all you boys with wounded feelings and bruised egos, we love you but you must honor your pledge to support Donald Trump now tonight”.
Trump created his own distraction toward the end of Cruz’s speech by entering the family box as the Texas senator wrapped up.
After a topsy-turvy night, Pence, showing his Midwestern style, did what he was supposed to do: He praised Trump, casting some of the nominee’s harsh rhetoric as quintessentially American.
“It’s time for a president who understands the art of the deal and who appreciates the value of a dollar, our tax dollars”, Eric Trump said.
The incident, as well as an earlier unsuccessful effort by Cruz supporters, including former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, and others to unbind the delegates was evidence that Trump has yet to unify the party behind his candidacy. “Stand and speak, and vote your conscience”.
“Vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution”, Cruz said.
“I would say it was a minority of the delegation that was really happy that he put some daylight between himself and the nominee, but it was a substantial, healthy element”, Goldman said. Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Not so for Colorado delegate Kendal Unruh, a leader of the outmaneuvered anti-Trump contingent, who said it’s time to “cancel the convention, stop the sham”, and who warned Trump might run into a “show of displeasure” in his acceptance speech ending the convention Thursday night.
The two runner-ups for the position were former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Tiffany Trump, the candidate’s 22-year-old daughter from his marriage to Marla Maples, said her father is a “natural-born encourager” who has motivated her to work her hardest.
“If we’re not going to do that, why do we have elections?” Ted Cruz and a video message from Florida Sen.
For better or worse, the Trumps have already delivered some memorable speeches at the 2016 Republican convention.
But Cruz, who dropped his presidential bid in May after losing to Trump in the in primary, delivered a powerful message, calling for the “return to freedom”. He finished a distant second in the delegate accumulation during the Republican nominating campaign.
Delegates on the floor began chanting “endorse Trump” after the Texas senator told the crowd to “vote their conscience” in November. They crowded around him 10 people deep in the sun on an outdoor restaurant deck after his 20-minute speech, chanting “2020, 2020, 2020!” And I’ve got to say, he’s not alone in this.
Cruz’s hedging could provide a reminder of how Trump’s polarizing, unpredictable bid for the nomination has alienated Republicans both on the right and in the center. Instead, Cruz talked about conservative ideals that could form the backbone of a future campaign. In a statement, Meredith McIver said: “Yesterday I offered my resignation to Mr. Trump and the Trump family, but they rejected it. Mr. Trump told me that people make innocent mistakes and that we learn and grow from these experiences”.
Advertisement
Texas delegate Colton Buckley said he wasn’t surprised at Cruz’s speech – or the reaction to it.
