Trump: I’m open to Cruz as VP

The Hill's Ballot Box Blog ^ | May 4, 2016 | Mark Hensch

[2ndDivisionVet]

Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he would consider making Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) his running mate.

“I respect Ted,” he told host Bill O’Reilly on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor." "He was a very strong competitor. He really competed hard and tough."

“He’s certainly a capable guy,” the presumptive GOP presidential nominee added. "It’s something we can think about.” Trump defeated Cruz in Tuesday’s Indiana GOP presidential primary, making him the presumptive nominee.

Cruz suspended his Oval Office bid shortly afterward, saying that his results in the Hoosier State “foreclose” his path to the Republican presidential nomination.

Trump on Wednesday said that he does not resent Cruz for their often bitter contest against each another.

“It’s an easy thing,” he said of the nominating process. "He said some things and he made some things up and he took some things that were said out of context.”

Reports emerged earlier on Wednesday that retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson would serve on a selection committee for finding Trump’s running mate.

Carson, another former GOP presidential candidate, will help Trump make his pick before the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July.

Trump on Wednesday said that Carson’s involvement stems from his reluctance in becoming the vice presidential nominee himself.

“I don’t think Ben’s looking at that,” he said. "He’s a friend of mine. He’s been so helpful. He’s a terrific guy.”

Trump additionally reiterated that he is also eyeing Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio), who suspended his White House run earlier Wednesday.

“I would certainly consider him,” he said. "During the debates I’d always find myself talking to John. I’ve had a good relationship with him, so we’ll see how that turns out.

“I don’t want to talk too much about it as I am considering a couple of people. We do have a lot of candidates who would be very, very good."

[SJSAMPLE]

I won’t blame Trump if he offers it.
I’ll blame Cruz if he ACCEPTS it.

You can only say so many things that cannot be taken back.

[DoodleDawg]

And Vice President Cruz would coast to the nomination.

But not to the presidency. Not if history is any indication.

[Yo-Yo]

Dear Lord NO!

How can you possibly choose Ted after calling him Lyin' Ted for two months? The opposition TV commercials write themselves.

[DoodleDawg]

Cruz brings nothing to a Trump/Cruz ticket ... Trump is going to win Texas anyway.

He is better off remaining in the Senate and working from that outpost.

I agree with that assessment completely.

[Mozilla]

Some caller is giving it to Beck. But Beck dumped him quickly. The guy was unhappy that Beck is blaming everyone else for Cruz not winning the nomination. Vince was condescending. The crew is explaining their conspiracy theory about Kasich staying in to stop Cruz.

[Resettozero]

How do you back-pedal on “Lyin’ Ted,” Donald?

DJT already has, successfully. In two days time.

[GrouchoTex]

While I supported Cruz, many of the good people here on FR have had the notion that Cruz would be a good President, after serving as Trump’s VP, to gain experience, help Trump in the legislative process, etc...
I see no problem with that.

Kasich brings Ohio into play, so, for better or worse, that would not be a bad strategic move.

Trump/Cruz got nasty in the primary, but probably more so for show than in real life.

It’s politics. They will talk, they will agree on 95% of the issues, and disagree on about 5%, which is pretty darn good. They agree on most things, just implementation and details is what they would have to work out, as far as an alliance goes.

[LS]

Same way you backpeddle on “voodoo economics.”

But honestly, I don’t know how much St. Ted brings to the table. Trump already won the evangelicals and “highly conservative” primary voters.

TRUMP SHOULDN’T PICK ANYONE FOR VEEP FOR AT LEAST A MONTH. The offers will come to him.

[Mozilla]

Beck thinks people sold out to Trump. Beck is convinced Trump is a liar. Beck thought Rand, Carson and Rubio were better. He is saying all hell will break loose. Delusional. He’s crazy.

[ConservativeWarrior]

“Ha ha ha. What will Trumpsters do now? Trump respects toughness and a hard fought campaign.”

________________________________________

We Trump supporters don’t need to do a thing. Our guy won.

And he has great judgement.

[Popman]

LOL...

Exploding Trump heads are always messy...

Amazing some of you Trump supporters bought his lying Ted Schick hook line and sinker...

LOL...

[Frederick303]

Trump said he wants a VP who will help with getting his legislative package through.

Not sure if Cruz does that or not, but perhaps it might unite the party. Might be very good for Cruz as while he does have a loyal 30% of the republican base, there is another 55% who have been put off by the man. If he has national aspirations he needs to somehow undo the negative impressions left with the 55% who actively rejected him.

My guess is Cruz is still mad (understandable) and this is an attempt by Trump to bring down the tensions in a public declaration. Kind of a decent thing to do, though to Trumps best interest.

Might be a good option for both of them to unit the party behind folks who are seen as outsiders, but it depended on Cruz deciding that he is willing to forgive and be forgiven for the rather tough nomination battle.

Maybe we can once again say

Trump/Cruz 2016

[StAntKnee]

"I’m okay with Cruz as VP for eight years, but I would very much prefer him on the Supreme Court for the next 35 years."

Your keyboard to God's eyes, amen.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

Canadian

[freepertoo]

Mr. Trump, please don’t do this. After all of the lyin’ Ted stuff, this just doesn’t sit well.

[freepertoo]

Can’t imagine Trump quitting after four years. Can’t imagine Trump quitting anything without a fight.

[Agamemnon]

Stranger things have happened. JFK and LBJ were certainly not friends.

In 1980, just before the Republican convention Reagan was asked what he thought of George H.W. Bush as a running mate. His reply went something like, "Well, George might be a possible selection, I suppose, but I just don't like the guy."

Reagan knew what it took to bring the party together, and he won it all running away.

Trump like Reagan is 69 years old. If Cruz was the running mate two things could happen:

1. Cruz serves as VP at least through the cabinet selection process, possibly through the Trump presidency, OR ...

2. Cruz serves as VP at least through the cabinet selection process, and is then appointed to fill the Scalia seat on the USSC.

Either way Trump wins the general with Cruz's help by coalescing forces and ground game and Cruz goes on to win as the follow on President like what happened with GHWB in 1988, or alternatively, as another poster noted, he's appointed to the USSC and serves 35 years.

Win-win.

FReegards!

[Abby4116]

his Canadian birth to a Cubo/Canadian father rubs me the wrong way.

The other day I read something very interesting about Americans born abroad to one citizen parent. This person was born of a US serviceman and his Japanese wife. The service person had the consular certificate of live birth for the baby and that became the baby's birth certificate, replacing the one issued by Japan. The parents also had to remarry at the consulate so that he could bring his wife to the US when his tour was over.

Wish I had bookmarked the page - it had photos of the paperwork.

[xzins]

My favorite VP pick has really come to the fore yet. I don’t have one. I have a list. Trump said at one point that he wants someone with excellent legislative experience. That would include both Kasich and Cruz, but there are others with that on their resume.

I prefer that the Veep bring along a purple or blue state and a demographic in addition to having experience in moving legislation. Martinez is mentioned, and she would help with both females and Hispanics, but New Mexico isn’t a bit electoral college state. Plus, her time was in law and as a governor. She’s completing a 2nd term, and perhaps her knowledge of New Mexico legislature practices is solid, but I doubt that transfers to the US Congress.

Condi Rice has vast experience, but she brings no electors. She would probably impress both females and blacks, though, and she would be considered ready to govern in case anything happened to the president.

Alan West, Ken Blackwell, Tim Scott, Niki Haley, etc. would all be on my long list. Kelly Ayotte, Chris Christie, Whitman, and Rubio would be on my long list. I’m forgetting some, of course.

But, I want to win. I think that Scotus appointment is the most important issue of the campaign, and I think that makes keeping the Senate the most important issue of the campaign. THAT gravitates AGAINST picking a Senator and disturbing the number that is already there. I would go so far as to encourage Rubio to run for his seat and not to back out. That would gravitate against Ayotte and Cruz.

If push came to shove, I’d probably go with Condi Rice, IF I could pick anyone. She could make Colorado her purple state home of record. I think she graduated high school while living in Colorado. I’m not sure she’s a campaign warrior, but when she speaks people listen.

[moovova]

What a hoot. It’s all kabuki theater.