Media members mercilessly mocked Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Friday for what they said was a wholly unenthusiastic endorsement of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
“It was a half-hearted endorsement for sure from Pence to Cruz,” said the Fox Business Network’s Trish Regan.
Vox.com’s Elizabeth Plank added, “Pence’s endorsement for Ted Cruz would have been worth something if it had been enthusiastic.”
“Lukewarm endorsement, meet Mike Pence. Governor Pence, lukewarm endorsement,” said the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza.
Pence now warming to the task of backing Cruz, after starting…tepidly.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) April 29, 2016
The governor announced his support for Cruz Friday afternoon in a radio interview, saying, “I’ve come to my decision about who I’m supporting: I’m not against anybody, but I will be voting for Ted Cruz in the upcoming [Indiana] Republican primary.
“I see Ted Cruz as a principled conservative who has dedicated his career to advocating the Reagan agenda. And I’m pleased to support him,” he added.
However, Pence was also careful to promote Donald Trump and his brand of politics, complimenting the billionaire businessman for tapping into “the frustration of millions of working Americans.”
Coupled with his meager compliments for Cruz, many in the press were quick to disparage the supposed endorsement.
“Pence endorsement not strong enough to get him cabinet post in Cruz admin but plenty strong to earn him IRS audit list in Trump admin,” said the Daily Caller’s Jamie Weinstein.
National Public Radio’s Jessica Taylor said, “That was one of the least enthusiastic endorsements I’ve ever seen. Pence praises Trump more than he does Cruz in endorsing him.”
The Indianapolis Star’s Joe Tamborello said, “I’m questioning if this actually can be considered an endorsement of [Ted Cruz] … Dodgy answers.”
“There are many contenders for most tepid Cruz endorsement, but Pence is making a strong case here,” said the New York Times’ Matt Flegenheimer.
BuzzFeed’s Andrew Kaczynski added elsewhere, “This Pence endorsement of Cruz is hilariously tepid … Pence’s endorsement is basically, yeah, I guess I’m for Cruz.”
friends, Hoosiers, countrymen, lend me your ears!
I come to endorse Ted Cruz, not to praise him
-Mike Pence first draft— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) April 29, 2016
Criticism for Pence’s remarks was not restricted to social media, as newsrooms around the country quickly published headlines declaring the governor’s announcement a bust.
“Indiana Governor Mike Pence just gave Ted Cruz the most tepid endorsement possible,” said Chis Hughes’ the New Republic.
Talking Points Memo published a story headlined, “Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Gives Lukewarm Endorsement To Ted Cruz.”
“The remarkable lameness of Mike Pence’s Ted Cruz endorsement,” read yet another headline, this time from the Washington Post.
BuzzFeed reported, “Mike Pence’s Ted Cruz Endorsement Was One Of The Most Tepid Cruz Endorsements Yet.”
National Review meanwhile said that, “Mike Pence gave the most lackluster endorsement of all time.”
The endorsement was seen as so weak, that the Cruz campaign itself didn’t even refer to it as one. Instead, the senator’s team said in an email that they were happy for Pence’s “support.”
However, in a sea of media condemning the governor’s endorsement as “tepid,” there was at least one holdout. Talk radio host and enthusiastic Cruz supporter Mark Levin characterized the announcement as “powerful.”
