Trump, Cruz exchange shots in escalation between GOP front-runners

New Yorkers have taken aim at Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz, who spoke disparagingly of “New York values” at a debate this week.

In recent days, Cruz has traded barbs with Republican foe Donald Trump, a native New Yorker, saying Trump embodies “New York values” and going on to say that NY has policies that “are socially liberal and pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage”.

Until Thursday night’s debate, Trump and Cruz had been friendly because they have both been chasing conservatives of the Tea Party movement and did not want to anger them.

Cruz’s comments also raised hackles in some quarters because, historically, saying something is “too New York” has sometimes been code for “too Jewish”. “After all we have been through as a city and as one undivided nation, to have a United States senator running for president paint NY as a city consumed with greed and media obsession is shocking”, said Guiliani.

“I apologise to the millions of New Yorkers who have been let down by the liberal politicians in that state”, he told reporters. “And, naming National Review founder William F. Buckley, the front-runner added that “(some) conservatives actually do come out of Manhattan.

The New York Daily News’ cover Friday had a succinct reply to Sen. “In New York, people don’t say ‘Hi” to their neighbours, they say, ‘Hello, Newman”.

Cruz reportedly gave an encore of his “apology” Friday at a campaign rally in Tigerville, South Carolina.

“I’m happy to apologize”, Cruz said.

“Well, John, you know, it’s sort of amusing, I woke up this morning, and it’s interesting I would be thinking about the Iran deal as I was getting ready to come over here, the Iran nuclear deal, and I was sort of sick to my stomach about it”, he said.

“You know, I think most people know exactly what NY values are”, the candidate said. “He’s at the bottom of the pack, I’m at the top of the pack”, Trump said.

“If when the battle is being fought and you don’t stand up and show up to fight, then your credibility when you’re a presidential candidate when you say, ‘Gosh, I really care about amnesty, ‘ becomes a little suspect”, Cruz said.

“New York is a great place, it’s got great people, it’s got loving people, wonderful people”, he said.