Sen. Ted Cruz on Thursday found a new way to attack rival Donald Trump, in the form of former President Jimmy Carter, a liberal president who not only said he’d prefer Trump over Cruz, but said he doesn’t believe Trump holds any real conservative positions.
Carter essentially wrote a primary campaign ad for Cruz, when he told an audience in London Wednesday that Cruz has firm, conservative convictions, while Trump would likely prove to be a much more flexible president who could work with Democrats.
“Trump has proven already he’s completely malleable,” Carter said. “I don’t think he has any fixed [positions] he’d go the White House and fight for.”
“On the other hand, Ted Cruz is not malleable,” he added. “He has far-right wing policies he’d pursue if he became president.”
Speaking at a school in New Hampshire Wednesday night, Cruz seemed to immediately grasp the gift Carter delivered, and said he would indeed run his comments in a TV ad.
“My comment to the team was, if there is video, get the video, I want the video,” Cruz said. “I’m going to pay to air Jimmy Carter attacking me.”
Trump has long been criticized by Republicans as an apolitical figure who only recently claimed to be a conservative, while Trump has defended himself by saying as a businessman, he had to work with both parties.
Cruz’s victory in Iowa put Trump on his heels even more, and many pundits expect that win to boost his chances in New Hampshire next week, even though Trump still holds a lead there.
While Cruz has the momentum coming out of Iowa, Sen. Marco Rubio is another threat to Trump, as he’s seen by many as a more acceptable conservative alternative to Cruz.
Rick Santorum on Wednesday dropped out of the race, and endorsed Rubio, a pattern that may continue as GOP candidates exit the race.
