Donald Trump Stokes Ted Cruz-Rick Perry Senate Primary Intrigue In Texas

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2016, file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump poses with a ring given to him by a group of veterans during a campaign event on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, ... FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2016, file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump poses with a ring given to him by a group of veterans during a campaign event on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) MORE LESS
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Donald Trump had nothing but the best things to say about Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) during a Texas fundraiser Tuesday when he was asked about a potential Perry Senate primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).

“I’ve been hearing a lot about that and I don’t know if he wants to do it, but boy will he do well,” Trump said in an audio clip posted online by Democratic group Lone Star Project.

The Texas Tribune reported it had verified the audio with two additional sources and confirmed that Trump was responding to a question about Perry challenging Cruz for the Senate (no such challenge actually exists, but ever since Cruz refused to endorse Trump at the Republican national convention in Cleveland, some questions have remained about his Cruz’s 2018 re-election bid.)

“I don’t know what he’s going to do but you are one popular guy all
over, but in Texas in particular,” Trump said.

It was hardly a full-throated endorsement, but it was in line with Trump’s past behavior of weighing in on GOP primaries. A poll from Democratic polling firm PPP last week showed that Perry was leading Cruz in a one-on-one primary matchup.

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Notable Replies

  1. Honesty escapes Trumpf, on even the must mundane subjects.

    Hey, Donny-Boy, Rick is a blithering idiot. Or hadn’t you noticed?

  2. Cruz: I guess I am voting Hillary.

  3. Cruz is revolting, but so is Perry.

    Texas, always the worst of the worst.

  4. Why is Trump not being honest here? How do you know?

  5. To which Perry replied, “Oh God! Kiss of Death! Rub it off, rub it off!”

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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