The New York businessman, who was crowned the GOP’s nominee Tuesday night, was greeted on the ground by Pence, the IN governor’s family and members of Trump’s family, who have had a star role IN the four-day convention. While he backed some of Trump’s policy proposals, including building a wall along the U.S. -Mexico border, he mentioned the GOP nominee by name only once.
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Drawing a sharp contrast between Trump and Hillary Clinton, Pence then echoed the message of party leaders the night before: It’s Trump or Clinton in November, so pick a side.
Cruz quickly got serious after that, but did not endorse Trump.
Cruz did tell his supporters he wanted to see unity in the Republican Party, and that the way to do that was “unite behind shared principles, us to unite in defense of liberty and for us to empower the grassroots”. “In this election there is only one candidate who will uphold the Constitution”. He named the NY real estate mogul only once in his entire speech, and that was to say only “I congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination”.
Following better-known party figures like Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the IN governor took the stage at Quicken Loans Arena IN Cleveland as the final speaker of the day, IN an effort to build excitement for the Trump-Pence ticket. Pence jokes that running mate Donald Trump is charismatic and must have been looking for balance in choosing him.
Trump joined “CBS This Morning” Thursday, just hours after Cruz’s impassioned speech to “vote your conscience” rather than vote with the party, and weighed in on the historic convention address.
“To those listening, please, don’t stay home in November”, he said. Cruz had a good start to his campaign as he won the Iowa caucus but could not keep up the momentum with Trump as the season progressed.
Mike Pence says Republicans have nominated a presidential candidate who never quits or backs down.
Cruz aides said the Texas senator informed Trump on Monday that he wouldn’t endorse him.
“We knew people were going to be mad if he didn’t say the words, but he congratulated him and called for unity behind common values”.
Cheryl Lankes, a devoted Cruz supporter from Brevard County, Florida, agreed that it would be inconsistent if Cruz told supporters to vote for the man who had disparaged him as “Lyin’ Ted”, and smeared Cruz’s wife Heidi Cruz and father Rafael Cruz.
Cruz can do this by focusing on the issues that Trump supporters and constitutional conservatives agree on, such as religious freedom, addressing judicial overreach, and securing our borders. It’s time to fight for a new direction for America. Speakers have painted an apocalyptic vision of America if she wins and have aggressively challenged her character.
Harsh attacks on Clinton have been a running theme in Cleveland. The negativity crossed a line for some in the party.
I thought he was a man of integrity.
“He’s a chicken”, said Eugene Delgaudio, a delegate from Sterling, Virginia, who clucked like a chicken when asked about Cruz’s decision.
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Dad Donald Trump sat in the family box at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland to hear his son make the case for Trump’s election to the White House.
