Pence, the keynote speaker on the third day of the Republican convention in Cleveland, has been well received by the Republican Party’s social conservative wing, who were sceptical of Trump’s commitment to opposing abortion and same-sex marriage but trust his running mate, a former US lawmaker.
Advertisement
The Cruz boos opened up the bitter feelings and division left over from the primaries but it was a strong show of support for the nominee, something Trump needs.
As he formally accepted the vice presidential nomination on Wednesday, Mike Pence jokingly told the crowd at the Republican National Convention that Donald Trump chose him for the role because he “was just looking for some balance on the ticket”.
While initially having the crowd in his pocket, Cruz’s failure to praise Trump by name elicited a harsh response from the audience, spurred on by members of the NY delegation, Trump’s home state, leading chants of “We Want Trump!”
As delegates throughout the hall shouted for Cruz to endorse Trump, Cruz said, “I appreciate the enthusiasm of the NY delegation”. Some senior figures who don’t like Donald Trump have stayed away, including two ex-presidents named Bush, former nominee Mitt Romney and Ohio Governor John Kasich.
Instead, Cruz outlined his vision for America and the Republican Party – staunch conservatism mixed with strict constitutionalism – and urged the crowd to vote for candidates who shared that vision.
Accepting the convention’s nomination, Pence spoke of Trump as a friend of the working class who has persevered in the business world. It turned into a menacing boo as the Senator walked out of the stage. “No big deal!” Trump wrote.
“I think the performance you saw there is why Ted has so, so richly deserved the reputation that he’s developed on Capitol Hill”, Christie told CNN on Wednesday night.
A lot of pundits have made Cruz’s support sound like it was crucial to Trump beating Hillary Clinton, but it’s hard to see how he can be much real help.
Cruz’s wife, Heidi, also came under verbal assault on the convention floor, with delegates heckling her. She had to be escorted outside by security, according to reports.
Trump responded to the speech with a tweet.
Mike Pence just lost his second chance to make a first impression. It ruined a really good moment – an opportunity for the Ted Cruz people and the Donald Trump people to come together.
Meredith McIver said Trump refused her offer to resign. The speech also had some fantastic lines: “Gay or straight, the Bill of Rights protects the rights of all of us to live according to our conscience”.
Advertisement
The two men have shared a notoriously hostile rapport following a primary battle that grew uncharacteristically nasty, with Trump labelling Cruz a “liar”.
