After winning two states Tuesday night, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called on his Republican rivals to “prayerfully consider” exiting the 2016 presidential race in order to help him defeat Donald Trump.
Cruz touted the fact that his campaign was the only one yet to defeat Trump, including projected victories in Texas and Oklahoma on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow morning we have a choice,” he told supporters in his home state, which he won. “So long as the field remains divided, Donald Trump’s path to the nomination remains more likely and that would be a disaster for Republicans, for conservatives and for the nation.”
“Republicans, together we have a choice. We are blessed with a deep and talented, honorable field,” he added. “For the candidates who’ve not yet won a state, who’ve not racked up significant delegates, I ask you to prayerfully consider our coming together, uniting. For those who have supported other candidates, we welcome you on our team standing united as one. That is the only way to beat Donald Trump. Head to head, our campaign beats Donald Trump resoundingly, but for that to happen we must come together.”
Cruz launched into criticism of Trump while arguing that the presidential race has entered a new phase. The senator framed the 2016 GOP race as a choice between two men: a “Washington dealmaker” and a “proven conservative.”
“America shouldn’t have a president whose words would make you embarrassed if you’re children repeated them,” Cruz said. “Our president should make us all proud, should inspire hope in all of us. We can nominate a Washington dealmaker, profane and vulgar, who has a lifelong pattern of using government power for personal gain, or we can nominate a proven conservative who has fought consistently for working men and women and to defend the Constitution.”
Cruz will head to Kansas on Wednesday, a state which will vote on Saturday. The next GOP presidential debate will take place on Thursday in Detroit.
