Pete King: ‘I’ll Take Cyanide’ If Ted Cruz Gets GOP Nomination (VIDEO)

Rep. Pete King R-N.Y. speaks at a Republican Leadership Summit, Friday, April 17, 2015, in Nashua, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
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Rep. Pete King (R-NY) went on a tear against the Republican presidential frontrunners in a blistering Tuesday interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” joking that he would commit suicide if Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) earns the nomination.

“I’m not endorsing Ted Cruz, in case anyone is confused,” King said. “I think I’ll take cyanide if he got the nomination. I think you’ll see Donald Trump scoring a big victory tonight. I did not endorse Donald Trump.”

King, who has referred to the Texas senator as a “carnival barker” and “phony,” explained that he voted by absentee ballot for Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) even though he doesn’t think that Kasich will win.

The New York congressman said his vote for Kasich was meant to “send a message” about the kind of values the Republican Party should embody, but he argued an endorsement wouldn’t help Kasich earn the delegates and votes he needs to secure the GOP nomination.

“If I thought Kasich had a chance I would endorse him,” King said, explaining that he wanted to keep his “powder dry” so that he could go into the GOP convention with clean hands.

King predicted that Trump, the current national frontrunner, would win the nomination. But he said he would not support him until he stops “talking off the top of his head” and outlines a clear set of policies he would implement as president.

“Show that he has some comprehension of what’s going on in the world, not just some guy at the end of the bar throwing in remarks,” King said.

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