Cruz’s decision to not endorse Trump was said by one Texas delegate to “hurt” the Republican Party, while another source close to Cruz commented that his non-endorsement was not the wisest decision.
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In a dramatic development, as Cruz wrapped up his speech, Trump suddenly appeared in the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, walking to join his family in a VIP area, in a gesture that transmitted clear anger at the Texas senator’s behavior. Roe did say that Trump and Cruz had spoken on Tuesday.
He said Trump’s name only once, when he congratulated him on winning the nomination the previous night.
“People are fed up with politicians who don’t listen to them”, Cruz said. But instead of urging the party faithful at the convention and millions watching at home to vote for Trump, he told them to vote with their conscience.
That was the last time you would hear the words “Donald” or “Trump” out of Cruz’s mouth for the rest of the evening. “Republicans, Democrats and independents who helped build North Atlantic Treaty Organisation into the most successful military alliance in history would all come to the same conclusion: Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit and fundamentally ill-prepared to be our commander in chief”.
“Republicans are going to have to ask themselves the question: ‘Do we want a candidate who could be tied up in court for two years?’ That’d be a big problem, “Trump told The Washington Post when asked about Cruz’s birth in Canada”.
Mrs Cruz, who works for the investment bank, had no comment early today.
Her husband, who is already eying another run in 2020, was unapologetic, but he came under fire from Trump and other Republicans. Ted Cruz exacerbated the party’s divides by refusing to publicly endorse Trump in his own speech.
While Pence is expected to make the case that Clinton is unfit for the White House, officials said his speech will not be a full-throated takedown in the style of earlier speakers.
“For those of you who don’t know me, which is most of you, I grew up on the front row of the American dream”, Pence said, telling the crowd of his upbringing in southern Indiana.
Another Trump rival vanquished in the race for the party nomination, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, spoke by video and praised Trump for his commitments to safeguarding national security, lowering taxes and appointing conservative Supreme Court justices.
Later, former House speaker Newt Gingrich tried to calm down delegates by saying that some had “misunderstood” Cruz. “In this election there is only one candidate who will uphold the Constitution”. Pence joked that running mate Donald Trump is charismatic and must have been looking for balance in choosing him. How about his awesome children? “Aren’t they something?” he said.
“Some people wanted to hear him say the phrase”, said Brian McAuliffe, of San Marcos, Texas.
“Honestly I never thought I’d be standing here”, he added.
The booing was so intense the Trump campaign encouraged its many staffers on the convention floor to try to calm the delegates down, said a Trump aide speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal campaign discussions.
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“I’m a Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order”, he added to warm applause.
