Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Monday told a group of conservative pastors in Iowa that if Donald Trump wins the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary, he could become the Republican nominee.
“If Donald wins Iowa he right now has a substantial lead in New Hampshire. If he went on to win New Hampshire as well there’s a very good chance he could be unstoppable and be our nominee. And the next seven days in Iowa will determine whether or not that happens,” Cruz said at a luncheon held by an evangelical group, the American Renewal Project, according to the Washington Post.
The Texas senator pitched himself as the best alternative to Trump.
“So even if you’re thinking about another candidate the simple reality is there is only one campaign that can beat Trump,” he said, according to the Washington Post.
Cruz suggested that Trump is not a true conservative and would not follow through on his promises.
“Now I will note if you have a candidate who has never defended marriage, who has never defended religious liberty, we should not be surprised if they get to the Oval Office and do not defend marriage and do not defend religious liberty. Do not listen to our words, look to our actions,” he said, according to the Post.
He asked the pastors to rally their congregations to caucus for him in Iowa, according to the Post.
