Posted on 08/19/2015 2:51:01 PM PDT by onyx
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz’s mutual admiration is turning into a conservative bromance—one that could have a huge strategic payoff for the Texas senator’s presidential campaign.
Behind the scenes, Cruz has been methodologically developing Trump’s support. The two candidates have met in person at least five times and talk by phone occasionally. And in the future, they may even hold events together.
The two campaigns privately discussed a possible joint event this year in Washington, D.C., and Cruz was invited to join Trump’s infamous trip to the Mexico border, though a scheduling problem prevented him from attending, sources told The Daily Beast.
“In terms of Trump’s civility, if you’re nice to him, he’ll be nice to you. And Cruz has been nice. Cruz is playing the long game and hopes that if he survives and Trump doesn’t, the billionaire will swing to him. He’s the second choice for a lot of Trump voters,” said a source familiar with the inner workings of the Trump campaign.
“Cruz has been cultivating Donald for some time, declining to criticize him after the immigration flap or the McCain controversy, sending messages through operatives, dropping by Trump Tower when in New York,” the source continued.
“Cruz is being very sly,” the Trump campaign insider said. “[He] attracts the same types of voter. A lot of second-choice voters for Trump are Cruz people… Cruz wants those votes.”
The two draw from similar segments of the Republican primary electorate—sometimes, almost too similar. In the video launching his presidential bid, Cruz made a passing reference to “make America great again,” which has since become the Trump campaign’s slogan. Trump applied for a trademark on the phrase shortly after the 2012 election.
The Texas senator’s use of the phrase, even in passing, prompted the Trump Organization to reach out and warn the Cruz camp in a friendly manner not to use it again, according to a Trump campaign insider.
The relationship has proved to be mutually beneficial for the two presidential candidates, but Cruz stands to benefit the most.
If Trump’s campaign were to flame out, it stands to reason that Cruz would be near the top of the list for potential endorsements. And even without an endorsement, Cruz would likely be a strong contender for Trump supporters looking for a new candidate to support. Cruz’s PAC also received money from Trump: a $5,000 donation in 2014.
“Cruz is being very sly,” the Trump campaign insider said. “[He] attracts the same types of voter. A lot of second-choice voters for Trump are Cruz people… Cruz wants those votes.”
In Cruz, Trump has a prominent politician who is willing to defend his comments. He may even have, in his mind, a potential running mate.
After Trump said during his campaign launch that Mexican “rapists” and “killers” were migrating to the United States, Cruz stepped up to defend the comments.
“I like Donald Trump. I think he’s terrific, I think he’s brash, I think he speaks the truth,” Cruz said on Fox News.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment. The Cruz campaign declined to comment. But an aide to Cruz, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the two had bonded over the issue of illegal immigration.
“The senator has repeatedly credited Trump for bringing so much attention to the illegal immigration issue,” the aide said. “The senator has been, in my mind, extremely clear about not wanting to belittle Trump and his supporters, because [those supporters] feel very passionately about a serious issue. That has certainly set the senator apart from the other candidates who have been critical of Trump, and by association critical of Trump’s supporters as well.”
As early as 2013, Trump believed that Cruz would run for president, a Trump campaign insider said.
The two met briefly at the Iowa Family Leadership summit in August 2013. “I thought he was a terrific guy,” Trump said on Fox News shortly after. “I met his father. Also terrific. And we had a great conversation.”
Following their first run-in, discussions began about a more formal meeting. It eventually happened in November 2013, when Cruz visited Trump Tower while on a fundraising swing through New York City.
During the meeting, the two discussed Cruz’s birthplace, Cruz told The Dallas Morning News. But Cruz’s erstwhile Canadian citizenship was not to be a problem—at least not an insurmountable one. Two months later, in January 2014, Trump donated $5,000 to Cruz’s PAC, the Jobs Growth and Freedom Fund.
Trump and Cruz met again at Trump Tower in mid-July of this year.
Just days later, Trump questioned whether Senator John McCain was a hero because he was captured as a POW, and Cruz declined to condemn the statement, calling Trump “a friend” on CNN.
Trump and Cruz have appeared at other events together, such as an American Spectator dinner and a Republican event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida. And during the government shutdown in 2013, the two spoke by phone, Politico reported.
But their chummy relationship hasn’t bought Cruz immunity from Trump’s birther instincts. As recently as March, Trump cast doubt on whether Cruz could run for present, since Cruz was born in Canada.
In certain circles on the right, this is no small issue. On the day of Cruz’s presidential campaign launch, Rush Limbaugh gave a long monologue on his conservative talk radio show insisting the senator is eligible for the White House.
Trump and Cruz have not made any secret of their mutual admiration. Cruz has had no problem developing combative relationships with other Republicans in the presidential field or in Congress, but with Trump it has been nothing but kindness. If anything, their public praise understates the curiously cozy relationship that the two have in private.
Santorum wouldn’t even win PA. I voted for Rick when he ran for senate, but he is dead meat in PA with conservatives due to his support for Arlen Specter. He once had a bright career in politics, but not so much now. Rick would be better off if he stuck to his movies.
Of course. He would revel in it. I think he's motivated by two things. First, he really does love this country and wants to see it "great again". Also he is near the end of his life, and he's looking at his legacy. He's done it all in terms of business, so what's left? There's nothing bigger than being president, and he wants to be the best one ever. It's in his nature.
Actually, no. Not at all.
Poor Jeb. He’s trying to pretend he’s actually relevant.
Have you considered what Trump had to put up with to become as wealthy as he is?
Unique times call for unique solutions. I see this as a way to sink Jebbie faster. We need to coalesce around a single non-Jebbie as soon as possible.
More bad reporting from idiots...if it’s “secret” we wouldn’t know about it would we?
I’m sick of lazy so-called journalist and reporters always writing about all the “secret” stuff.
If Trump was a 70yo painter, saving America would be his masterpiece, his master thesis showing everyone Trump is Trump. Since George S. Patton seems to be the fruits of his tree, that motivation sits just fine with me. I’ll salute his combover at Mt. Rushmore if he earns it.
I don’t care much who a candidate did or did not endorse. That has no bearing on their policies.
Trump told Howard Stern he wanted McCain and Giuliani to run back in 2006.
They agree on illegal immigration.
Looks like they do not agree on legal immigration.
None of them are going to agree on every single topic.
Legal and illegal immigration are not the same problem. Related, yes, but not the same.
Winning ticket.
Trump having a field day with reporters, in LIVE presser....
So trump/cruz or cruz/trump might be a great prez/vice prez combo....very formidable in the upcoming elections!
I’ll vote for them in a heartbeat...what ever the combo turns out to be!
LOLOLOL.
Glad y’all liked that...I just couldn’t resist.
To me immigration is immigration. Your view points out my disconnect. Thanks.
Otay...FWIW, here’s MY take on this:
Trump DELEGATES authority. He has done it his whole life. Every project he’s ever done, he’s had to put people in positions of strength where he maybe is lacking in the actual knowledge of how say a building gets built and in what order.
He knows how to pick talent to get the results he wants or needs.
Trump can handle the economic side and the media side JUST FINE.
He needs Cruz to RUN the “political side” (IE congress).
Ted can do that with NO PROBLEM as VP. It will be his knowledge of how things are being run and what needs to change to get things done.
Donald takes care of the media and economy side (delegating there also) and Cruz will FINALLY be getting a chance AND THE AUTHORITY to “crack heads” and straighten out the GOPe crap that has infected the last 2 midterms.
Trump using the media “calling out” the bad eggs in the gov’t omelet and Chef Cruz creating the “new” recipe to fix it. Sounds like a plan to me.
Donald needs someone who has been RECENTLY on the “inside” of the beltway who he can trust. IMHO, I believe he knows he can trust Ted.
Cruz would be the POLITICAL side of the Trump/Cruz ticket actually taking care of the inside gov’t stuff unfamiliar to Trump, and Trump gives Cruz the “cover” by taking all the media hits while Ted does his “job”. Ted will have just as much power if not MORE in the VP position with Trump as he would in the POTUS position. Trump will see to it.
Trump DELEGATES. Look at the other people he has already started to align himself with who can accomplish what he wants done.
Just my 2 cents...
Makes cent$ to me....Business and constitution.....Thats America
Yup
Trump outs them one after the other. The elitists seem to have trouble learning the new game.
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