Donald Trump is not backing down from a number of contested convention-week statements, including pledges to change North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, a border ban that would affect Muslims and a number of countries, the tone of his acceptance speech, his refusal to release his tax returns, and threats to fund opponents of Republicans who oppose him.
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“That pledge is not a blanket commitment [that] if you go slander and attack Heidi I am nonetheless going to come like a servile puppy dog and say thank you very much for maligning my wife and maligning my father”.
Was it bad and selfish for Cruz to say we have no king, queen or dictator and that the people have the right to constrain government?
“I think the combination of his speech, Governor (Mike) Pence’s speech and all of the speeches from his kids have really helped solidify him as a candidate”, Waterman said.
Donald Trump tore into his former Republican rival Ted Cruz after the Texas senator’s convention speech Wednesday night – blasting him for “not honoring the pledge” to endorse the party’s nominee.
That effort got off to a rough start when Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, made her debut political speech on the first night of the convention. Manafort told NBC’s “Today” on Thursday that Cruz “understood what the responsibilities are, someone in his position”. Trump came down the steps in the crowd and motioned to the delegates while Cruz was speaking, upstaging his rival yet again.
Both the Trump campaign and GOP establishment figures have rebuked Cruz for his speech.
But what Cruz nearly certainly knew going into his speech was that, while the public face of the party is all “we want Trump!” and unity talk, behind closed doors, a very different discussion is going on. There are fears that Mr. Kasich’s formidable political operation in the state will be focused on other races and won’t be as helpful to Mr. Trump’s hopes, and no Republican has ever won the White House while losing Ohio.
While he doesn’t support Trump, he’s still a proud Republican, he said.
“Conventions are precious, unique opportunities to go in living rooms with the candidate’s appealing story”, says Lawrence Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota.
The majority of the crowd appeared to share Ivanka’s feelings and began yelling, “Trump, Trump, Trump!” as Cruz spoke.
But Cruz responded saying he’s still watching and listening in the campaign. “Vote your conscience”, was all he’d say – Trump, not Trump, whatever.
The Texan added he won’t vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton and said every voter should look at candidates up and down the ballot and ask themselves who they “trust to defend freedom and be faithful to the Constitution?”
Shortly after Cruz left the stage, some television newspeople near me rose to do standups to lead their local news.
Wednesday night Trump wasn’t so harsh, tweeting that he let Cruz speak even after seeing his remarks and that it was “No big deal!”
In unprecedented move for a Republican Presidential nominee at a Republican convention, Trump spoke about LBGT rights, invoking the Orlando shooting in June which claimed 49 lives.
In another part of town, Cruz defended his decision during a Texas delegation at a breakfast. “We’re going to see the beginning of a dynasty here”. I love Ted Cruz’s father.
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Instead of projecting party unity and reaching out to the undecided voters who will decide the victor in November, the conclave that launched the general election for the GOP has spotlighted splits and stumbles, chaos and conspiracies – a narrative that might be good for attracting ratings but bad for reassuring voters.
