Posted on 05/30/2016 8:23:43 AM PDT by conservative98
When Donald Trump collected a few unbound delegates last week, surpassing the 1,237 needed to clinch the Republican nomination for president, expectations that the national convention could be the most dramatic in modern times evaporated.
“Now, it will be the most entertaining,” said Randy Evans, a party-wise man from Georgia, with a nod to the reality TV star’s promise to “put some show biz” into the July convention in Cleveland.
But there remains an important, unscripted drama yet to unfold in the tempestuous relationship between Trump and his chief rival, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.
Although Trump will arrive in Cleveland as the victor and Cruz the vanquished, the politics of the moment suggest that Trump needs Cruz — to reassure nervous conservatives — more than Cruz needs Trump, whose defeat in November would fulfill Cruz’s frequent prediction and best serve the 45-year-old Texan’s future presidential ambitions.
“If he does not endorse and Trump loses, Cruz gets to step out on Nov. 9 and say, ‘See what I said,’ ” said Evans, a member of the Republican National Committee’s Rules Committee who, as chairman of the Republican National Lawyers Association, stayed neutral in the race. +In Cleveland, Trump may need Cruz more than Cruz needs him photo Drew Angerer U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks to the media as he returns to his office at the U.S. Capitol on May ... read more
“Cruz is a brilliant strategist, a long-term player. He’s got cards to play, and I fully expect him to play a few of those cards,” Evans said. “I think Cruz’s theme will be to say, `You’re the nominee, but I’m the party. You’re the name on the ballot, but I’m the one who represents, who epitomizes what it means to be a Republican.’”
Cruz ended his campaign May 3 after a bitter defeat in Indiana, dropping out shortly after lashing out at the man who had spent months calling him “Lyin’ Ted.”
“This man is a pathological liar,” Cruz said of Trump. “He doesn’t know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth.” +In Cleveland, Trump may need Cruz more than Cruz needs him photo Nicholas K. Geranios Jennifer Fetters of Bellevue, Wash., works the Ted Cruz booth at the Washington state GOP convention May 19.
Cruz also called Trump “utterly amoral,” adding that “morality does not exist for him.”
“I don’t see how you can take those words back, particularly if part of your appeal is that you’re not a traditional politician, that ‘I tell it like it is,’ ” University of Houston political scientist Richard Murray said. “I can’t see how that would work.”
For many admirers of Cruz, the very thought of endorsing Trump remains repugnant. +In Cleveland, Trump may need Cruz more than Cruz needs him photo Rodger Mallison Delegates cheer as Sen. Ted Cruz speaks at the Republican Party of Texas state convention in Dallas on May 14.
“Cruz should maintain his sterling conservative brand and stay far away from the Trump train and its inevitable wreckage,” said CNN contributor Amanda Carpenter, Cruz’s former communications director in the Senate. “Even if Trump wins the White House, he’ll have done it in a low-down, dirty way that no one with any integrity should be proud to endorse.”
Cruz’ strategy got him as far as #2 out of 16. His fatal error IMO was getting down in the mud with Trump. No one, and I mean no one, is as ruthless a combatant as Trump. It’s his time, and he’s taking advantage of it.
Again, you’re out of touch with reality. Cruz is one of the few principled conservatives to make a serious run for the presidency. You accuse him of a lack of character? And support Trump? Please.
“decision by the media to ignore Cruz”
Cruz was on all the shows. He brilliantly started every sentence with “Donald Trump...”
Ah yes... One of scruz's dooees per NE.
Media ignore Cruz? They tried hopelessly and endlessly to try and prop up this terribly unattractive, holier-than-thou, stilted candidate up - the media was frantically trying to help him, but he was just helpless and hopeless.
The only candidate who was more unattractive in the race was Hillary. Once Cruz got the focus on him as the only anti-Trump alternative, he collapsed as the voters saw him and rejected him when they did...he was only “popular” when no one knew anything about him and hadn’t seen him. Once people saw him and heard him it was over for him.
You must not be from Texas.
Contrary to what is said above, Cruz will easily be reelected in 2018
That would be perfect. Even A LOT of former Cruz supporters can't stand the sight or sound of him any more. I'm one of them though I switched to Trump as soon as he came to AZ that very first time and had to change venues at least twice.
It would help if he gave even a crappy support as you say and then disappear.
You mean....Crews would not be a Canuk?
I understand they need a dogcatcher in Calgary.
Sorry, you’re living in a different reality than I. Goodbye.
Project much? Shamelessly, Ted.
I doubt Trump needs Cruz that badly.
>> I fully expect Ted to support the nominee, that’s what he said he’d do <<
“Sure. He can just say, “I support the nominee,” and then do nothing else other than sit on his hands or go into seclusion.”
I think you have it exactly right. Cruz will say something like, “I made a pledge and I will honor my pledge.”
Then he will do not another thing, but he will work tirelessly throughout the campaign to get Republican House and Senate candidates elected.
“I understand they need a dogcatcher in Calgary. “
You know it’s ugly to be a sore loser, but it’s way more ugly to be a sore winner.
You guys won. Can you possibly stop it with the stupid insults?
Cruz and Levin are enablers. The people will never forget. Ivory tower fakers. Donald has really exposed them. Wow.
they wont
Insults?
There's nothing wrong with being a Canadian, they're very nice people. They just can't be elected to US positions.
He loves the constitution and should be a Supreme Judge.Who cares what he loves? We don't need deceitful cheats and liars for SCOTUS...He would stab a President Trump in the back (again) as SC Justice.
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