CLEVELAND — Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said on Wednesday night that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, needed to be a “big boy” in the face of Donald Trump’s attacks on his dad and endorse the Republican nominee in his convention speech later tonight.
Asked on the convention floor what he’d like to hear from Cruz in a much-anticipated speech, King said, “I’d like him to do the right thing and make an endorsement, but I’m not a Ted Cruz fan.”
Asked why it was important for him to endorse Trump, he added, “He pledged that he’d support the nominee of the party, he was talking like he was a friend of Donald Trump until he thought he had a chance of beating Trump. Now, listen, politics is tough, but if you’re in it, unless there’s some overriding reason not to endorse the nominee, you should endorse him.” After I noted that Trump’s campaign had pushed the idea that Cruz’s father had a role in President Kennedy’s nomination, King said, “A lot of things are said in politics, but you gotta be a big boy, you gotta go with it.”
King said, “I supported [Jeb] Bush, [Sen. Marco] Rubio and I voted for [Ohio Gov. John] Kasich, but I’m supporting Donald Trump,” It’s down to him and Hillary [Clinton] and he’s far superior on key issues — defense, homeland security, the Supreme Court. To me, it’s not close. You can’t get everything you want. If I had the ideal choice, I’d be running, you’d be running.”
