Festering Republican divisions over Donald Trump’s stunning rise to presidential nominee boiled over at the party’s convention, when runner-up Ted Cruz controversially failed to endorse the businessman.
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Trump briefly joined Pence on the stage, shook his hand, patted him on the back, gave a thumbs-up and, in a signal to the crowd, pointed at Pence.
But an equally interesting question is how: How did Cruz know that the phrase “vote your conscience” would be so widely and immediately read by Republicans as a hostile gesture towards Trump? “I will note, sir, that you might have a similar view if someone was attacking your wife-in fact I hope you would”, Cruz said. When the speech ended-without an endorsement-the hall erupted in boos and Cruz’s wife had to be hustled out to protect her from angry delegates. Ted Cruz said he would not be voting for Hillary Clinton this fall but would not say if he will vote for his own party’s nominee Donald Trump. “Cruz Draws Boos, Jeers for Not Endorsing Trump”, reported the Washington Post. I was about to go out and give my speech. “But I have seen this good man up close, his utter lack of pretense, his respect for the people who work for him and his devotion to his family”, Pence told the crowd, accusing Democrats of preparing to nominate the exact opposite of a truth teller in Clinton.
“Vote for the one candidate who does not need this job”, he said. “Because we want our children, and all children in this nation, to know that the only limit to the height of your achievement is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them”.
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. Cruz was indirectly referring to Trump’s negative comments about Cruz’s wife and father during a contentious Republican primary season.
“No big deal!” Trump tweeted afterward about Cruz’s speech.
Speaking later in the evening, Newt Gingrich tried to spin Cruz’s speech as evidence of “extra effort” Trump has made to bring unity, inviting former opponents to speak without requiring an endorsement.
Trump supporter John Whitmer, a delegate from Wichita, Kansas, said Trump made a mistake by going on Fox News on Monday night to rail against Kasich as speakers were lauding his candidacy at the televised convention.
“Stand on principle and alienate those you work with”, he said.
The convention, due to end on Thursday with Trump’s speech accepting the party’s nomination, has been marked by turmoil from Day One.
“Let’s resolve here and now that Hillary Clinton never becomes president”, Mr Pence said told the adoring faithful.
The conservative evangelical Christian and former congressman could serve to steady Trump’s heaving and swaying campaign ship and reassure voters alarmed by Trump’s rhetoric.
Rubio, who Trump dismissively referred to as “Little Marco” during the primaries, said Trump is committed to cutting taxes, getting the debt under control, fighting ISIS and nomination constitutional judges. “There is only one candidate in this election who will uphold the constitution”, Gingrich said.
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The Texas senator was heckled Thursday morning as he spoke to his home state delegation to the Republican National Convention. Instead, Ted Cruz underscored how deeply divided the GOP remains.
