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.
Thank you, dearest Jane Long.
Looks like Mr. Trump will be all over TV tonight!
.@ChrisCuomo sat down with @RealDonaldTrump today. The full interview airs at 9p. http://cnn.it/1WFCCoK #TrumpOnCNN
There are millions of evangelical Christian people who don't vote, and Ted has the ability to tap into that. So together they put the Christian vote with the new populist vote win it all.
I agree! Outstanding analysis of how a Trump/Cruz administration could work and do so extremely well.
A Cruz/Trump ticket just might send all them RePubes right over the edge.
Hey!
You’re smarter than I “thought.”
XOXOXO
Seriously, that’s exceptional thinking!
“Let’s all play through this together, and things will become clear later.”
Hit the ball....
drag Jebbie,Rubio,Walker,TalkinGirlCarly,etc,etc
How ironic is it that a supposed organized that pays lip service to equality, won’t even bat an eyelash to vocal segregation that it seems to always push!
Good reasoning!
I think the two compliment on another!
LOL.
Yes, indeed!
Cruz is sly?
note the daily bitch just has to bash him
Why not just say he’s smart or if he think Trump can win he’ll help cause it might save America
Cruz great as he mostly is had to know the big Mo is with El Trumpio and I think he’s willing to put the country about himself
Trump has a natural face with plastic hair.
Cruz has a plastic face with natural hair.
Together, they might be natural ... or...
“As early as 2013, Trump believed that Cruz would run for president, a Trump campaign insider said.”
There’s the key statement from the article.
A lot of people have been saying this collaboration started with the meeting a month ago.
The GOPe can’t afford to go after both at the same time.
Also I believe they have something up their sleeve for shenanigans by the GOPe at the convention.
Second article on this I have seen today. The idea of this will make the MSM, and GOPe soil their underoos.
Thanks for your very kind reply to my post!!
REALITY CHECK Trump and Cruz are miles apart on legal immigration.
A huge red flag is that Cruz grovels for latino votes....consistently depicts himself as "latino" Yet his family bgrnd indicates he's only 1/3 latino. He's been living large, seeking the spotlight. off his last name for ages. Could be a latino "us against them" battle-cry behind all the conservative blather,
And while Trump has ignited America's visceral contempt for politicians...voters will be aghast knowing Cruz has been running around like crazy, becoming a Washington Insider.
CURRENT COMMITTES (Cruz web site):
•Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
•Subcommittee on Seapower
•Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
•Subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness, Chairman
•Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
•Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet
•Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security
•Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
Committee on the Judiciary
•Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts, Chairman
•Subcommittee on The Constitution
•Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest
Joint Economic Committee
Committee on Rules & Administration
================================================
BGRND---Elected senator in 2012 and is the first Hispanic or Cuban American to serve as a U.S. Senator representing Texas. He is the chairman of the subcommittee on the Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.[7] He is also the chairman of the United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.
Between 1999 and 2003, Cruz was the director of the Office of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission, an associate deputy attorney general at the United States Department of Justice, and domestic policy advisor to U.S. President George W. Bush on the 2000 Bush-Cheney campaign. He served as Solicitor General of Texas from 2003 to May 2008, after being appointed by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.[8]
Cruz was also an adjunct professor of law at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, from 2004 to 2009.[12][13] While there, he taught U.S. Supreme Court litigation.[12]
Cruz is one of three US Senators of Cuban descent.
Cruz was the Republican nominee for the Senate seat vacated by fellow Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison.[15] On July 31, 2012, he defeated Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst in the Republican primary runoff, 57%–43%.[16] Cruz defeated former state Representative Paul Sadler in the general election on November 6, 2012. He prevailed 56%–41% over Sadler.[16][17]
On November 14, 2012, Cruz was appointed vice-chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. (WIKI)
I think that you are correct, sir! They will make a great team!
I just do not see why everyone including their pet kitten thinks Trump will drop out. Maybe it’s just a popular bandwagon to be on.
But I do see Trump/Cruz as an unbeatable ticket, and I hope that’s what they are working towards.
“Winning ticket.”
Worth repeating.
The primary ones who don’t like, no, FEAR, the idea are libtards and die hard party-before-principles establishment republicans, but I repeat myself.
“I guess those two are now the GOPe’s dream team, given that Jeb isn’t living up to all the promise they bet their money he would.”
I have sources that who it was/is Rubio all along. Jeb! was/is nothing more than a distraction.
Doesn’t prove anything, of course, but I’m not the only one with the theory.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.