Ted Cruz has endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump for the presidency in a stunning turn of events after a contentious primary filled with personal attacks and a dramatic snub at the Republican National Convention.
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In an apparent nod to their tumultuous history, Trump’s campaign responded to the Cruz endorsement with a statement from vice presidential nominee Mike Pence.
On Friday, Texas Senator Ted Cruz swallowed his pride and made his public declaration of support for Republican nominee Donald Trump.
“I think Ted Cruz endorsing Trump at this point plays to the caricature that he is self-interested, not really principled”, wrote Erick Erickson, a conservative commentator who had just published a well-received essay on why he still rejected Trump.
First, his promise to support the Republican nominee.
“Well, look, she was so nice to me”, Trump said.
In a 741-word Facebook post Friday, Cruz wrote that he made the decision because he wants to “keep his word” to vote for the Republican nominee and because he finds Hillary Clinton “wholly unacceptable”. ” Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonObama used pseudonym in emails with Clinton FBI releases interviews with Clinton aides Trump slams Obama for “shameful” 9/11 bill veto MORE is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans”.
In January, Trump tweeted a fallback plan for Cruz in case his presidential dreams fell short, suggesting Cruz could be the Canadian prime minister, a jab at questions over Cruz’s eligibility to be president due to his Canadian birthplace.
If you can remember back as far as the primary, Cruz was Trump’s main rival for the Republican nomination.
“We have a very clear choice in this election”, Trump said. Trump also backed Cruz’s position in a congressional squabble over internet regulation.
Mr Trump later expressed regret for posting the image of Heidi Cruz, but it remains on his Twitter account.
Trump retweeted an unflattering picture of Cruz’s wife. Jump ahead a few months after Cruz’s stand on the man who insulted his wife never getting his thumbs up and the tide has changed.
The decision to announce his intention to vote for Trump, rather than endorse him outright, was seen as a compromise – even if voters see little distinction between the two. Today, a rote news release informed reporters that Trump was “greatly honored” by the endorsement.
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Cruz’s later refusal to endorse Trump at the Republican National Convention got him booed offstage, but won him respect on the right. Trump yoked Cruz with the nickname, “Lyin’ Ted”, and called him a “nasty guy”, an “anchor baby”, “unstable” and “sick”. Cruz was captured on tape describing his strategy at a donors’ meeting: Attach himself to Trump, and pick up his anti-establishment voters once he dropped out of the race.
