A top member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus told the Trump campaign Thursday that Sen. Ted Cruz should be selected as Donald Trump’s running mate.
Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, said he approached Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort during Thursday’s meeting between Trump and about 200 Republicans. Labrador told Manafort Trump should pick Cruz to run as his vice president, even though the two men were engaged in a bitter battle during the GOP primary.
“I told Paul Manafort today if he wants to unify the party behind Donald Trump, take the number-two guy and make him the vice president,” Labrador said during a monthly conservative roundtable sponsored by the Heritage Foundation. “That would be the only way of getting the party together and getting two guys who got 70 percent of the votes.”
Trump, according to news reports, met privately with Cruz, R-Texas, following the presumptive GOP nominee’s meetings with House and Senate Republicans.
Labrador said the two men should put the primary fighting behind them.
“They just need to make up,” Labrador said.
Cruz would provide experience and conservative credentials to the ticket that Trump needs to bring in more Republican votes, Labrador added, and bring in those,”who are still a little hesitant,” about Trump’s candidacy.
“I think you would see the convention completely unified behind a ticket like that,” Labrador said.
