CLEVELAND (AP) — Donald Trump’s allies are pummeling Ted Cruz for refusing to endorse his former rival for the Republican presidential nomination.
Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort told reporters that Cruz is “in violation” of his pledge to support the nominee. Trump formally won that title on Tuesday. Manafort added that the delegates who booed the Texas senator offstage Wednesday night helped unify the party behind Trump.
Another ally, New York Congressman Chris Collins, said on Fox News that Cruz has “ended his own career” with his refusal to endorse, which Cruz repeated Thursday morning at an appearance before his home state delegation.
Cruz stands firm on refusal to back Trump
Ted Cruz says he won’t vote for Hillary Clinton, but he’s not promising to endorse Donald Trump, “like a servile puppy dog.”
The Texas senator was heckled Thursday morning as he spoke to his home state delegation to the Republican National Convention.
He says he’ll “watching and listening” but won’t “sit down, shut up, support the team.” Cruz adds that he doesn’t intend to “throw rocks” at Trump, but he’s not ready to endorse him.
He adds that, “We either stand for shared principles or we’re not worth anything.”
Cruz and Trump have significant bad political blood between them. Trump nicknamed him, “Lyin’ Ted” and implied that Cruz’s father, Raphael, had a connection to President John F. Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald. Trump also criticized the appearance of Cruz’s wife, Heidi.
He adds, “I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father.”
Cruz was booed offstage during his address to the GOP convention Wednesday night when it became clear that his speech would not include an endorsement of Trump.
