Yet if Cruz’s inability to go beyond the most perfunctory of congratulations was understandable, more befuddling was the Trump campaign’s willingness not only to tolerate this behavior but also to feature it in prime time.
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His team hopes to close the convention on a more traditional note, with the businessman delivering a scripted speech to the convention crowd and millions of Americans watching on television.
“This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction, terrorism and weakness”, he said. In terms of policies, “Safety in America” is one of his most important campaign promises, after a spate of violence in America as well as around the world. He has largely stuck to his previous promises of building a wall around the USA and suspending immigration from nations “compromised by terrorism”.
Trump’s relentlessly gloomy tone was a jarring contrast to the sunny introduction delivered by his daughter Ivanka Trump, who portrayed him as a generous, magnanimous business executive who would be “the people’s champion” and “a fighter” who delivers results.
When Trump promised to protect LGBT citizens from attacks like the shooting at an Orlando nightclub that left 49 dead, the crowd cheered, and Trump ad-libbed.
Strategists say that galvanizing rank-and-file Republican voters is Trump’s best chance to win, as the bombastic candidate has sparked much controversy during his campaign and turned off many independents. He said Cruz did not honor the pledge that Republican primary candidates had made to support the eventual nominee. Though he vanquished 16 primary rivals, he’s viewed with unprecedented negativity by the broader electorate, and is struggling in particular with younger voters and minorities, groups GOP leaders know they need for the party to grow. “These largely negative views of the candidates come despite heavy Clinton campaign advertising in OH leading up to the Republican Convention and Trump’s efforts to humanize his candidacy with multiple primetime speeches from family members”, David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston, said in a statement. Ted Cruz, who was booed off the stage for failing to endorse Trump. When Cruz reportedly told Trump he didn’t plan to endorse him at the convention, and Trump still gave him a speaking slot, that should have been a big red flag to Cruz – caution ahead.
“There was a time in American history when a real man would have called the other guy out to a duel” for disparagement of his wife, Heidi, Lonegan said.
Before the Republican National Convention opened here this week, conjecture ran to riots, quieting after three days of relative calm to an uneasiness, if not the expectation, that forces of unrest might be saving it all up for the end.
“We deserve leaders who stand for principle, who unite us all behind shared values, who cast aside anger for love”, said Cruz, effectively listing criticisms leveled at Trump.
In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance agreement was crystal clear: “We defend each other”. “You can’t forget the bills”, he said.
The billionaire portrayed himself as the champion of the men and women of America who work hard but were ignored.
Clinton tweeted: How will you feel if you wake up on January 20 to President Trump? Her greatest accomplishment, Trump said, was avoiding punishment from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for her use of a private email and personal server while as secretary of state.
Next week, Democrats will hold their national convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Hillary Clinton will presumably be nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
Clinton has yet to announce her running mate.
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Cruz delegate Eric Burlison, a Missouri House member from Springfield, said Cruz would have been better off sending a videotaped message as Florida Sen. Tim Kaine has emerged as a leading contender.
