CLEVELAND – Though the night was scheduled to be a rally for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Texas senator and former Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz made the crowd at Wednesday night’s session united with anger.
Cruz, who was the runner-up in the race for the Republican nomination, ended his Constitutional rights-based speech without an endorsement to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Instead, Cruz urged voters to vote with their conscience.
“Vote for candidates up and down the ballot who will defend your rights,” Cruz said in wrapping up his speech, avoiding any word of confidence in and promotion of Trump. Cruz’s exit off of the convention stage was then proceeded by loud boos.
For the rest of the convention, chants of “We want Trump!” erupted between and during speeches. Right before finishing, Trump made an appearance at the convention to sit with his family.
Former speaker of the house and former contender for Trump’s vice presidential pick Newt Gingrich stabbed back at Cruz in his speech later.
“If you want to protect the Constitution of the United States, the only possible way, and that’s the Trump-Pence ticket,” Gingrich said at the beginning of his speech, bringing the crowd back to cheering.
Trump has a history of being undiplomatic with Cruz, going as far as passively calling his wife Heidi Cruz ugly and nicknaming him Lyin’ Ted for his time running in the Republican primary.
Cruz dropped out of the Republican primary hours after results came in favor of Trump during Indiana’s May 3 primary.
Heidi was reportedly escorted out of the Quicken Loans arena where the Republican convention was held immediately following her husband’s speech due to harassment and unrest.
Pence initially endorsed Cruz prior to Indiana’s primary, though did say in the same statement he appreciated what Trump has done for certain Republican voters who support him.
Cruz is not the only former Republican candidate to not endorse Trump. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has also not supported the businessman, going as far as not attending the Republican convention being held in Kasich’s own state.
This is not the first jab made toward Trump at the convention. Monday, delegates tried to vote down convention rules in order to try and block a vote nomination. Tuesday, Washington, D.C. delegates attempted to report their delegate count as to not be bound to Trump. Their attempt was denied.
Trump will give his speech at Thursday night’s convention session.
