“I am deeply humbled by your confidence”, Pence told delegates, still reeling from a night of high drama and political infighting over Trump’s anointment as the party’s White House candidate. Cruz aides made clear that they did not support efforts to strip Trump of the nomination, but the activity of Lee and a key Cruz adviser – Ken Cuccinelli – in behind-the-scenes hijinks muddied the waters about where Cruz stood, especially since he declined to ever disavow the machinations.
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He advised voters, “please don’t stay home in November”-a rallying call for conservatives to vote for Republican candidates down the ballot”. But when Cruz said Republicans should “vote their conscience” for candidates who will abide by the Constitution, he did not specifically encourage them to vote for their party’s nominee.
Boos immediately erupted from the audience as attendees started chanting, “We want Trump!”
Ron Kaufman, a Republican national committeeman from MA, said the flare-up over rules was choreographed to demonstrate public support for Cruz and preserve his future.
Mr Trump sparked rumours about Mr Cruz’s wife and father.
“You know, he’s a man known for his large personality, a colorful style, and lots of charisma, and so, well, I guess he was looking for someone to balance the ticket”, Pence said. Eric Trump, the candidate’s 32-year-old son, took the stage near the evening’s end, praising his father as other family members had earlier in the week.
Should Trump lose, King said of Cruz, the speech will be “the marker for him as front-runner” for 2020.
Let’s repeat that. What’s happening at the Republican National Convention is not normal.
Indiana Governor and Republican Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence arrives to speak during the third day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, July 20.
But he urged the group to “follow our conscience”, “unite behind liberty” and “empower the grassroots” – all signals to the deep organization Cruz assembled in finishing second to Trump to be ready to jump back into action in four years.
“I understand the enthusiasm coming from the NY delegation”, Cruz said, as Trump supporters continued to boo.
“The question was whether Cruz would make his speech about HIS future or the future of the country”, Huckabee said in a Facebook post.
“We’re leveling with the America people about the stakes and the choice”, Pence said. He was overshadowed by Trump during his rollout event in NY where he spoke just half as long as the real estate mogul.
“Now, I think you misunderstood one paragraph that Ted Cruz, who is a superb orator, said, and I just want to point it out to you”, he continued. Americans can elect someone who literally personifies the failed establishment in Washington, D.C., or we can choose a leader who will fight everyday to Make America Great Again. The runner-up in the primary, Ted Cruz, did show up but pointedly didn’t endorse Trump. “He did a really good job”. It was vintage Ted Cruz. As the crowd booed Cruz when he left the stage, the delegation cheered. But he hadn’t shed his disgust for Trump. Pence and his family, along with Trump’s adult children, greeted the billionaire as his helicopter landed by Cleveland’s picturesque lakefront. The uncanny convention is an indication that many Republicans have given up this year – that they’ve looked at the consistent lead Hillary Clinton has been putting up in the polls and have simply chose to cut their losses this time around.
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Plugged-in reporters quickly found out the backstory: Quite aware that Cruz didn’t plan to offer an endorsement, Trump’s team allowed him to speak anyway. “You couldn’t hear. What a bunch of idiots”, he said.
