Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said on Thursday that he doesn’t believe Donald Trump will win the Republican presidential nomination, but added that the real estate mogul’s candidacy has helped the senator’s bid.
WABC’s Rita Cosby asked Cruz if Trump’s popularity among Republican voters is waning.
In response, Cruz criticized other Republican candidates who have attacked Trump, noting that he has not gone there.
“And I’ll note, you know I think the most beneficial thing Donald Trump’s involvement in the race has been — I think his involvement has been tremendously helpful to my campaign because it’s framed the central question of this primary as, ‘Who will stand up to Washington?’” Cruz continued. “And if that’s the central question, the natural next question that any voter will ask is, ‘Okay, well who actually has stood up to Washington? Who has a record in that regard?'”
Cosby asked Cruz if he felt he could beat Trump in the primary.
“I think that’s right. I think in time I don’t believe Donald is going to be the nominee, and I think in time the lion’s share of his supporters end up with us,” Cruz responded. “And I think the reason is what I was just saying, that if you look to the records of all the Republican candidates there’s a big difference between my record and that of everyone else if you ask, ‘Who has stood up to Washington? Who’s taken on not just Democrats, but taken on leaders in their own party?'”
Throughout the presidential primary, Cruz has repeatedly declined to attack Trump and has criticized those candidates who have, presumably because the senator wants to scoop up the real estate mogul’s supporters when he drops out of the race.
h/t Politico
