Posted on 07/21/2016 9:57:25 AM PDT by COUNTrecount
CLEVELAND — Mike Pence had the stage to himself Wednesday night. But even with Donald Trump off stage and watching, a different, Texas-sized echo was still ringing.
After largely being overshadowed by Trump during his official debut last weekend, the billionaire businessman’s running mate used the prime-time stage on Wednesday night to bridge the divide between the conservatives who have fallen in line behind Trump and those still holding out. He also tested out his new role as Trump's No. 1 attack dog on Hillary Clinton.
But Pence's prime-time moment came as Republicans were still picking their jaws up from the floor after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz jolted Quicken Loans Arena by telling Republicans to "vote their conscience" in November.
As Pence took the stage, Indiana's delegates chanted "Mike! Mike! Mike!" By the end of the speech, more delegates began to chant, "We Like Mike! We Like Mike! We Like Mike!"
"You know, I'm new to this campaign. Honestly, I never thought I would be standing here. I thought I would be spending this evening with all my friends in the great state of Indiana," Pence said. "Yet there I was, a few days ago in New York City with a man who won 37 states, who faced 16 talented opponents and outlasted every one of them, and along the way brought millions of new voters into the Republican Party."
"He is a man known for a large personality, a colorful style and lots of charisma. So I think he was just looking for some balance on the ticket," Pence quipped, to cheers.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Cruz' antics are eclipsing Pence's great acceptance speech last night, just as he planned to do.
Let's take the power away from Cruz.
Pence did an outstanding job!
If Cruz wasn’t such a moron he could’a had that VP spot. Good luck now lyin Teddy.
exactly.
I teared up watching him because he is just so sweet and good. No other way to describe him.
Outstanding choice by The Donald!
Completely agree
Not so stunning for those who have been watching - when I switched from Cruz to Trump, it was obvious that Cruz's ego was running his show and his intellect was happy to believe his own fantasies. He feels as entitled as Hillary and has proven to be as untrustworthy.
The only thing Cruz demonstrated to me last night was he solidified the idea he wasn’t the right guy.
I haven’t viewed it yet, and while I think he could have handled the Religious Freedom law in Indiana better, I know him to be a solid man.
If something, anything, should happen that Trump does not win, Pence, not Cruz, has now positioned himself as the heir who could unite the overwhelming bulk of the party in 2020 as things now stand.
He could have also been appointed SCOTUS.
He screwed up royally and I hope the fork in the road that he took in this campaign haunts him the rest of his life.
"Hey Ted! See that fork in the road? Take it!"
The cubanadian was not and never will be eligible.
Thank God he did, Pence is leagues ahead of Cruz in just about every way.
Cruz has more mistresses though.
Yes, but he desires to copulate with rats as long as they are not Donald Trump.
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