Bush Tosses Support To Cruz in GOP Race

March 24, 2016

After repeatedly clashing with Republican front-runner Donald Trump during the campaign, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday endorsed Ted Cruz in the battle for the GOP presidential nomination.

Bush made the announcement a little more than a month after dropping his bid for the presidency and about a week after Trump won 66 of the 67 counties in Florida’s Republican primary. The support for Cruz, a Texas senator, came as party leaders frantically try to head off the billionaire Trump, whose controversial outsider campaign has drawn support across the country among GOP voters.

In a prepared statement, Bush described Cruz as “a consistent, principled conservative who has demonstrated the ability to appeal to voters and win primary contests.”

But Bush also pointedly raised the concern of many party leaders that Trump would turn off general-election voters and keep a Democrat in the White House.

“For the sake of our party and country, we must move to overcome the divisiveness and vulgarity Donald Trump has brought into the political arena, or we will certainly lose our chance to defeat the Democratic nominee and reverse President Obama’s failed policies,” Bush said. “To win, Republicans need to make this election about proposing solutions to the many challenges we face, and I believe that we should vote for Ted as he will do just that.”

Bush was widely seen as the establishment favorite for the nomination, piling up endorsements and contributions. But he fared poorly in early states and dropped out of the race Feb. 20.

The two-term Florida governor was the frequent target of Trump’s attacks. Perhaps most notably, Trump described Bush as “low energy,” a description that got widespread attention and dogged Bush, who appeared more comfortable discussing policy issues than getting dragged into the noisy back-and-forth arguments that have played a major role in the GOP campaign.

Wednesday’s announcement came the morning after Trump won the Arizona primary and Cruz won the Utah caucus. As another example of how Republican leaders have lined up against Trump, 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced last week that he would vote for Cruz in the Utah caucus. Also, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who dropped out of this year’s presidential race and then supported Bush, said he would back Cruz.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich also remains in the Republican race but is far behind Trump and Cruz in delegates. Bush’s statement did not mention Kasich.

Cruz said he was “truly honored” to have Bush’s backing.

“His endorsement today is further evidence that Republicans are continuing to unite behind our campaign to nominate a proven conservative to defeat Hillary Clinton in November, take back the White House, and ensure a freer and more prosperous America for future generations,” Cruz said in a prepared statement.

by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida


Comments

8 Responses to “Bush Tosses Support To Cruz in GOP Race”

  1. David Huie Green on March 29th, 2016 8:34 pm

    REGARDING:
    “necessary to change America to it’s former, correct state of greatness.”

    FORWARD TO THE PAST

    Assumes America is not as GREAT as it used to be.
    I can’t think of any metric where America isn’t great.

    “How about telling me why you think he will be a good president in your opinion Mr. Bush?”

    He actually doesn’t or he wouldn’t have tried to beat him.
    He just believes Trump would lose to Hillary Clinton and that Cruz is one of many who would be better than HRC and the only one with a chance to get the Republican nomination instead of Trump.

    *”The republicans are afraid they wont have a puppet to control.”*

    Actually, every registered Republican is covered by that statement, even the “puppet”.
    So, if a puppet is his own puppeteer, is he still a puppet?

    David for the best
    (even though no sane person has even considered me)

  2. 429SCJ on March 26th, 2016 8:16 am

    Donald Trump is the man with the creative ideas, necessary to change America to it’s former, correct state of greatness.

  3. American lives matter on March 25th, 2016 5:44 pm

    In a prepared statement, Bush described Cruz as “a consistent, principled conservative who has demonstrated the ability to appeal to voters and win primary contests.”

    Appeal to voters and win primary contests??? WHO CARES!!!

    How about telling me why you think he will be a good president in your opinion Mr. Bush?

    Doesn’t matter anyway, the way these Republicans are acting is just giving Hilliary a clear path to the election. Lord help us….

  4. northend resident on March 24th, 2016 11:29 pm

    In 57 years I have never before seen our country so divided until now. This political race may as well be held at an elementary school. It is unbelievable that this is all we have to pick from to run our country. We are suppose to be the “UNITED States of America” It is obvious that the American citizens are fed up with Washington. Politicians are so busy arguing and trying to be right fighters they disrequard what they are elected to do. Maybe politicians should be denied being paid until they can learn how to unite themselves republican and democrats. We need someone who cares about all Americans.

  5. Ponderosa hill on March 24th, 2016 9:58 pm

    I am just plain tired of the Clintons and Bushes……as my poor ole grandma used to say.. ” they’re pretty much just trash with cash”. But you know that describes a lot of we Americans now-a-days. Now it’s the Governor of Alabama? I don’t know if “we the people ” can dig our way out of the mess we’re in.

  6. wendell on March 24th, 2016 8:46 am

    You haven’t been paying attention, obviously-Cruz is nobody’s puppet.

  7. JJ on March 24th, 2016 7:27 am

    Now there’s the kiss of death!

  8. Just saying on March 24th, 2016 5:30 am

    I believe that the american people are tired of businesd as usual in Washington. The republicans are afraid they wont have a puppet to control.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News