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Cruz questions Trump’s conservative bona fides, judgment Cruz questions Trump’s conservative bona fides, judgment
(about 5 hours later)
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) slammed Donald Trump on Saturday, casting him as a false conservative and questioning the real estate mogul’s temperament and judgment. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) continued his rhetorical onslaught against Donald Trump on Saturday, casting him as a false conservative and questioning the real estate mogul’s temperament and judgment.
Cruz’s remarks open up a new front between the two Republican front-runners, with Cruz aggressively hitting the New Yorker for the first time while on the campaign trail. “Donald’s record does not match what he says as a candidate,” Cruz told reporters after a forum in Fort Mill, S.C. “It seems Donald has a lot of nervous energy. For whatever reason, Donald doesn’t react well when he’s going down in the polls.”
“Donald’s record does not match what he says as a candidate,” Cruz told reporters in Fort Mill, S.C. The remarks are part of an aggressive escalation in a relationship that had been strategically chummy. For months, Cruz had effusively praised Trump, stating there was a benefit to having the New Yorker in the race and chiding the media for “the little game” of pitting Republicans against one another.
“It seems Donald has a lot of nervous energy. For whatever reason, Donald doesn’t react well when he’s going down in the polls,” Cruz said. Thursday’s Republican debate marked the end of that. Cruz, with unconcealed delight, chided Trump for raising questions about whether he met the Constitution’s “natural born” standard for president; with less success, he started raising questions about whether a Manhattan mogul could be trusted by conservatives.
The remarks are part of a fast, aggressive escalation in a relationship that had been oddly chummy. For months, Cruz had effusively praised Trump, stating there was a benefit to having the New Yorker in the race. But that all changed during Thursday’s Republican debate, where Cruz struck back after Trump had, for weeks, questioned the Texas Republican’s ability to be president because of his Canadian birth and religion.
[Republicans now see a Trump-Cruz race, with time for a shift running out][Republicans now see a Trump-Cruz race, with time for a shift running out]
Trump escalated his attacks on Cruz in a series of tweets Saturday morning, stating that additional lawsuits will be filed questioning Cruz’s eligibility to be president, knocking him for not reporting loans from Goldman Sachs and Citibank that he used to fund his 2012 Senate campaign. Trump said Goldman “owns” Cruz and he will “Do anything they demand.” Cruz’s wife is on leave from her job as an executive director at Goldman. Trump escalated his attacks Saturday morning, saying in a tweet that additional lawsuits will be filed questioning Cruz’s eligibility to be president. At a rally in Portsmouth, N.H., he knocked Cruz for not reporting loans from Goldman Sachs and Citibank that he used to fund his 2012 Senate campaign.
“How do you control . . . these big powerful banks, you’re a senator and yet you owe them money with a personal guarantee,” Trump told a crowd of about 500.
Trump said Goldman “owns” Cruz and he will “Do anything they demand.” Cruz’s wife is on leave from her job as a managing director at Goldman.
[Heidi Cruz is the high-powered spouse we’ve rarely seen since Hillary Clinton][Heidi Cruz is the high-powered spouse we’ve rarely seen since Hillary Clinton]
Trump called Cruz the “ultimate hypocrite,” linking to a story about how Cruz raised money at the New York home of two wealthy gay businessmen. In another tweet, Trump called Cruz the “ultimate hypocrite,” linking to a story about how Cruz attended an event at the New York home of two wealthy gay businessmen.
Cruz pointed to the Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll that shows him beating Trump in a two-man race — although Trump leads the entire field.Cruz pointed to the Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll that shows him beating Trump in a two-man race — although Trump leads the entire field.
“And I imagine it pulled him out of bed this morning and sent him tweeting and tweeting and tweeting. I think in terms of a commander-in-chief, we ought to have someone who isn’t springing out of bed to tweet in a frantic response to the latest polls,” Cruz said. “I imagine it pulled him out of bed this morning and sent him tweeting and tweeting and tweeting. I think in terms of a commander in chief, we ought to have someone who isn’t springing out of bed to tweet in a frantic response to the latest polls,” Cruz said. “I think the American people are looking for a commander-in-chief who is stable and steady and a calm hand to keep this country safe.”
“I think the American people are looking for a commander-in-chief who is stable and steady and a calm hand to keep this country safe.” Cruz’s campaign also went on the offensive, tweeting and emailing a video of Trump on “Meet the Press” in 1999, during which Trump called himself “very pro-choice” and admitted that he viewed gay rights differently from a voter in the heartland.
Cruz’s campaign also went on the offensive, tweeting and emailing a video of Trump on “Meet the Press” in 1999 where Trump said he is “very pro-choice” and talks about gay marriage and gays serving in the military through the lens of someone who lives in New York.
“I lived in New York City and Manhattan my whole life, so my views are a little bit different than if I lived in Iowa,” Trump said.“I lived in New York City and Manhattan my whole life, so my views are a little bit different than if I lived in Iowa,” Trump said.
Trump’s campaign manager declined to discuss the candidates latest attacks on Cruz, pointing reporters to Trump’s series of tweets on Saturday. Trump’s campaign manager declined to discuss the candidate’s latest attacks on Cruz, pointing reporters to the candidate’s tweets.
Cruz said this week that Trump represents “New York values,” stating during the debate that they are “socially liberal or pro-abortion or pro-gay-marriage, focus around money and the media.” Cruz said last week that Trump represents “New York values,” stating during the debate that they are “socially liberal or pro-abortion or pro-gay-marriage, focus around money and the media.”
Trump offered an emotional defense of the city, speaking movingly of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Cruz apologized on Friday to New Yorkers — for their liberal elected officials. Trump offered an emotional defense of the city during the debate, speaking movingly of the 9/11 attacks. Cruz seemed lost, applauding along with the audience. It took him most of a day to formulate a comeback, delivering an “apology” to New Yorkers for the liberal elected officials who were depriving them of safety and freedom, then calling Yahoo News to ask readers to watch the 1999 ­interview.
[Cruz apologizes to New Yorkers — for their liberal elected officials][Cruz apologizes to New Yorkers — for their liberal elected officials]
Cruz said Saturday that the “New York values” phrase came from Trump himself. Cruz continued on Saturday, saying that the “New York values” phrase came from Trump himself.
During the 1999 interview Trump described New York values as “being very, very, very pro-choice, supporting partial birth abortion and being open to gay marriage. That’s what Donald Trump described as New York values,” Cruz said. “Being very, very, very pro-choice, supporting partial birth abortion and being open to gay marriage,” said Cruz. “That’s what Donald Trump described as New York values.”
He also stated that Trump gave money to Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). He also stated that Trump gave money to Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) and other Democrats.
“It’s a fair inference that he supports their policies. So I understand that he is feeling defensive about my observation,” Cruz said.“It’s a fair inference that he supports their policies. So I understand that he is feeling defensive about my observation,” Cruz said.
A Cruz aide said that the campaign will attempt to highlight contrasts between Cruz and Trump when it comes to “guiding principles” and records of accomplishment. This person said the campaign wants to point out differences between the two that show Cruz is “better prepared, that people can be confident that he has guiding principles to make critical decisions as president and commander-in-chief ,” this person said. Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler said that the campaign will highlight contrasts between Cruz and Trump to illustrate that voters can be confident that Cruz has “guiding principles to make critical decisions as president and commander in chief,” he said.
“I don’t think the voters have that same confidence in what Donald Trump’s guiding principles are other than he would make a deal and compromise on any given issue, and then he has policy proposals that just don’t seem serious,” this person said. Trump “has policy proposals that just don’t seem serious,” Tyler said.
When asked why Cruz decided to go after Trump this week, the person said, “We have three weeks to go” until the Iowa caucuses. Chad Sweet, the Cruz campaign’s chairman, said Cruz’s comments are direct responses to attacks that Trump lodged against Cruz about his birthplace and religion — attacks that, Sweet noted, Trump said during the debate were sparked by Cruz’s rising poll numbers.
Cruz’s surrogates have also gone on the offensive, highlighting Trump’s lifestyle and multiple marriages. A campaign aide said that the campaign and candidate will continue to push issues with Trump. “Donald Trump started the fight with us, we’re glad to finish it,” this person said. “When we’ve responded we’ve attempted to stay in the counterpunch mode, hitting back on specifics about what he has been attacking us on,” Sweet said.
The shift comes after Trump questioned Cruz’s ability to run for president in an interview with The Washington Post this month. When asked why Cruz decided to go after Trump this past week, Tyler said, “We have three weeks to go” until the Iowa caucuses.
Cruz initially laughed off Trump’s assertions, stating that voters were interested in substantive issues, but he changed course after Trump continued to question his eligibility and played Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” at rallies as a not-so-subtle dig. As recently as last month, Cruz tweeted that he wasn’t going to engage in a “cage match” with Trump. “Donald Trump started the fight with us; we’re glad to finish it,” Tyler said.
He and others from the campaign sent out a series of tweets Saturday stating that Trump had made campaign contributions to a number of Democrats, including Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), former congressman Anthony Weiner (D) and the New York State Democratic Party.
[The end of the Cruz-Trump bromance? Not if Cruz has his way.][The end of the Cruz-Trump bromance? Not if Cruz has his way.]
The two had played nice earlier in the campaign, with Cruz repeatedly calling Trump his friend, meeting with him in July at Trump Tower and inviting him on a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border that Cruz ultimately couldn’t make because of Senate votes. Cruz invited Trump to a Capitol Hill rally against the Iranian nuclear deal in September. Political observers saw Cruz as drafting close to the businessman with the hopes of inheriting his supporters should he fade from the race. But that hasn’t happened, and Cruz is now on the offensive, trying to cast himself as a candidate with superior judgment and values. The two had played nice earlier in the campaign, with Cruz repeatedly calling Trump his friend, meeting with him in July at Trump Tower and inviting him on a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border that Cruz couldn’t make because the Senate had votes scheduled. Cruz invited Trump to a Capitol Hill rally against the Iranian nuclear deal in September.
At the time, Cruz told NBC News that Trump’s success had been “immensely beneficial for our campaign.” His assumption, confidently stated on live TV, was that “as voters get more educated,” they would graduate from Trump’s campaign to his.
But that hasn’t happened, and Cruz is now on the offensive, trying to cast himself as a candidate with superior judgment and values.
[How Ted Cruz wooed and won Donald Trump][How Ted Cruz wooed and won Donald Trump]
The feud may have its greatest impact on Cruz’s first nomination contest in Iowa, where the two candidates are in a tight race with widely overlapping constituencies. Cruz’s criticisms of New York values threatens to undermine Trump’s support among the state’s evangelical Christians, who have made up a majority of Iowa’s caucus-goers and fueled victories for Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee in the past two cycles. The feud may have its greatest impact in Iowa, where the two candidates are in a tight race with widely overlapping constituencies. Cruz’s criticisms of New York values threatens to undermine Trump’s support among the state’s evangelical Christians, who have made up a majority of Iowa’s caucus-goers and have fueled victories for Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee in the past two election cycles.
Cruz’s support is concentrated among white, born-again Christians, but he leads Trump by a modest 33 to 19 percent among this group in a Fox News poll this month, despite winning several key endorsements from evangelical leaders. The two candidates are also battling to appeal to voters’ frustrations with Washington and the national Republican Party. A Des Moines Register-Bloomberg News poll, which found Cruz at 25 percent and Trump at 22 percent, indicated two-thirds of each candidate’s supporters say they are backing anti-establishment Republicans, compared with just over half of all likely caucus-goers. Cruz’s support is concentrated among white, born-again Christians, but he leads Trump by a modest 33 to 19 percent among this group in a Fox News poll this month, despite winning several key endorsements from evangelical leaders. The two candidates are also battling to appeal to voters’ frustrations with Washington and the national Republican Party. A Des Moines Register-Bloomberg News poll, which found Cruz at 25 percent and Trump at 22 percent, showed two-thirds of each candidate’s supporters say they are backing anti-establishment Republicans, compared with just over half of all likely caucus-goers.
Cruz has spent the entirety of his campaign trying to gain the support of evangelical Christians and tea party conservatives. One of Cruz’s rivals for religious voters, Huckabee arrived at a tea party convention in Myrtle Beach, S.C., several hours before Cruz was set to speak. Cruz’s success at locking up evangelical and tea-party support has left him with few defenders. Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, arrived at the South Carolina Tea Party Convention here several hours before Cruz was set to speak, and in a short news conference, he passed up two chances to criticize Trump. If the mogul had evolved on social issues, Huckabee said, it had happened over “15 years, not 15 minutes,” a fine contrast with the other Republican candidates.
In the New York values debate, Huckabee might have been expected to pick Cruz’s side: In his pre-campaign book “God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy,” , the former Arkansas governor described New York as the capital of “Bubble-ville,” a city of filthy streets and empty churches. But Huckabee, who has watched Cruz capture many of the social conservative voters that backed his 2008 campaign, repeatedly defended Trump.
“I think Donald Trump did a great job the other night of talking about the kind of values that we saw and the sacrifice of New Yorkers after 9/11,” said Huckabee, recalling his own visit to the “smoldering” World Trade Center. “I think everybody in the world was just absolutely amazed at how the people of that city pulled together and rebuilt.”“I think Donald Trump did a great job the other night of talking about the kind of values that we saw and the sacrifice of New Yorkers after 9/11,” said Huckabee, recalling his own visit to the “smoldering” World Trade Center. “I think everybody in the world was just absolutely amazed at how the people of that city pulled together and rebuilt.”
When pressed on the eventual substance of Cruz’s comments — that New York was a bastion of liberals, and that Trump had once expressed liberal views on abortion and gay marriage — Huckabee continued to take the real estate mogul’s side. But when Huckabee took the stage, he saw hundreds of supporters of Trump or Cruz. At least a hundred of the roughly 600 tea party activists who made it to Myrtle Beach wore T-shirts printed with one of the candidates’ names. Few were interested in the fight raging across the media.
“New York politics are different than they are in Arkansas, but it’s not my duty to explain them,” he said. “Look, if you want to talk about candidates who’ve switched positions, you’ve got a bunch of them out there who’ve changed on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and on ethanol, and on foreign policy. Donald Trump’s positions, if they’ve changed, have changed over the last 15 years. Not the last 15 minutes.” “He wasn’t beating up Trump when he said that about New York, and Trump had a really good comeback in the debate,” said Charlie Fowler, a Charleston conservative activist wearing a shirt from one of the first tea-party gatherings in 2009. “But the values issue is real. All you really have to do is look at a map — blue on the coasts, red in the middle.”
Cruz got stuck in an elevator in South Carolina. Sandra Inman, a Cruz supporter from Jackson, Miss., attending the South Carolina Tea Party Convention, said she could not support Trump but understood why people did.
When the doors finally opened, Cruz, a coffee cup in hand, looked at assembled media and said, laughing, “Okay, who put Donald Trump in charge of the elevators?” “He changed the conversation for the first time in my lifetime,” Inman said. “The tea party people I know who support him know that he’s changed. They are lots of people who had Democratic leanings and came around.”
Scott Clement, Patrick Svitek and Jenna Johnson contributed to this report. Speaking in contested territory at the convention, the two candidates dialed down the rhetoric. Cruz never mentioned Trump by name. Instead, he suggested that no one who had shared the debate stage had fought with his vigor against legalizing gay marriage, the Affordable Care Act or Planned Parenthood. “No one in history ever grew a backbone after they got to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” he said. In interviews after the speech, Trump’s fans in the crowd did not interpret that as a criticism.
Trump, who spoke for more than 45 minutes, did not mention Cruz until a dashed-off reference to the Goldman loan. “He didn’t report the loans,” he said as some people in Cruz shirts booed. But he spent more time mocking a familiar target: Jeb Bush. Trump’s biggest applause came when he said “zero” voters would follow Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and endorse Bush.
“Why’s he attacking me?” Trump said. “He’s got to knock out seven or eight guys before he gets to me.”
Zezima reported from Washington. Patrick Svitek in Fort Mill, Jose A. DelReal in Portsmouth, and Jenna Johnson and Scott Clement in Washington contributed to this report.