He refused to say whether he would vote for Mr Trump, who dubbed him a liar and attacked his family during the primary campaign, although he did say he would not vote for the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton.
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New York Republicans relished their spotlight role at the Republican National Convention this week, helping start a revolt against Texas Sen.
His most loyal supporters – the Texas party stalwarts who make up the state’s convention delegation – repeatedly criticized Cruz over his decision, one going as far to shout that they’d win in 2016 “with or without you!”
But eyes will now pivot to Clinton.
As previously reported, the aspiring first lady’s address appeared to plagiarize remarks that Michelle Obama made during the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
The reality is that Republicans are finally going to test the theory that the grass roots of its party are a better picker of presidential candidates than are the elites.
“A lot of people are surprised that we are where we are, and are having to adjust to that reality”, says DeVos.
“It’s not classless to compliment Trump for winning”, the source added. Ivanka will introduce her father before he gives his acceptance speech tonight, the final night of the convention. “That pledge was not a blanket commitment that if you go and slander my wife that I am going to come like a servile puppy dog for maligning my wife and maligning my father”. He promised a “simplified” tax system for the middle class and businesses, fewer regulations and renegotiation of trade deals that he says have put working class Americans at a disadvantage.
Reassuring voters who are eager for change but anxious about Trump – unsure whether the blustery billionaire businessman and reality-TV star has the demeanor and depth of knowledge to be president – was the main goal of the week that convention manager Paul Manafort set on Monday morning.
“Is this guy running for president or dictator?'” he tweeted.
While the reception in the hall was tumultuous for him, the four-day convention failed to capitalize in a coherent way on the biggest opportunity a presidential nominee has to present a relatively unfiltered message to a broader swath of voters. He reportedly confers with top aides regularly, too.
The long list of no-shows, including the two former President George Bushes, defeated former Florida of Gov. Jeb Bush, and past presidential nominees John McCain and Mitt Romney, deprived the occasion of much of the usual nostalgia that accompanies such party celebrations. “We certainly don’t want Hillary Clinton”.
Trump painted her as corrupt, incompetent and hopelessly out of touch. “Death, destruction, terrorism and weakness”, he said of her legacy. “It can be hard for us in the Bay Area to realize what people are experiencing across the country and see how there could be any appeal in Trump’s speech”.
Tom Perez, labor secretary and a liberal, could heal the rift with left-leaning supporters of Sanders and as a Latin, cement the increasingly important Hispanic vote.
Two outside choices are James Stavridis, a retired four-star US Navy admiral and liberal superstar Elizabeth Warren, the MA senator who could also help attract Sanders supporters.
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Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus spoke at the event, applauding traditional Republican values and calling for party unity, saying “let’s stand united as Republicans, let’s get to work to expand our Republican majorities”.
