Pence Makes The Case For Trump After Cruz Is Booed

Despite this history – and despite Cruz informing him in advance that he had no plans to make an endorsement – Trump allowed Cruz to give a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night.

Then, as if on cue, Trump entered the arena amidst all the boos, an awkward moment that was caught on camera.

“The best unity I saw was everyone booing him off the stage”, Donald Trump Jr. said of the moment during an appearance on Fox News. “Vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom, and to be faithful to the Constitution”.

Earlier in his speech, Cruz drew cheers when he embraced Trump’s call to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Asked about his views of Russia, Trump said that if that country attacked some of the small Baltic States that are the most recent members of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, he would decide whether to come to their aid only after reviewing whether those nations “have fulfilled their obligations to us”.

Later, Trump would turn to his newly named running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to close Day 3 of the convention on a more unifying note.

“Until now he has had to do it all on his own but now with this united party he has back-up”, Mr Pence said of the task past and future for Mr Trump, overlooking the embarrassing reality that the party is not united at all and has done a fine job this week of demonstrating it. Until now, he has had to do it all by himself against all odds. But when Mike Pence took the stage to accept his vice presidential nomination, delegates on the floor before him were still buzzing about the discordance of Ted Cruz.

The lion’s share, $25.6 million, went to Trump Victory, which raises money for the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and 11 state party committees.

Mr Pence, 57, is considered a favourite among social conservatives and has considerable experience as a former congressman.

“Ted Cruz said you can vote your conscience for anyone who will uphold the Constitution”, he said. “In this election there is only one candidate who will uphold the Constitution”.

OH governor and losing Republican presidential contender John Kasich, who skipped the convention in his home state, also declined to endorse Mr Trump.

Still, Trump’s campaign invited Cruz to speak – in a headliner role, no less. It served up a fresh reminder of why Trump is such a hard nominee to swallow for many in the GOP establishment. “No big deal!” Trump tweeted.

Clinton’s campaign, seeking to take advantage of the GOP divisions, echoed Cruz on Twitter, writing, “Vote your conscience” and linking to her website. Still, Walker suggested he was driven as much by a desire to keep Clinton out of the White House as admiration for his party’s nominee. On Wednesday, a Trump delegate from New Hampshire said during a radio interview that Clinton “should be put in the firing line and shot for treason”. It was delegates around the arena, standing up, shouting him down and waving him off the stage.

Lynne Patton, a longtime Trump employee, spoke movingly about the businessman’s strong family.

Outside Cleveland Science Center, where the Trump family was appearing that afternoon, family friend Marcy Gentry Beach said she was delighted with the reaction.

Trump’s campaign had hoped that by the convention’s end, voters would look past the gathering’s rough start, including the plagiarism charge involving Melania Trump’s opening address.

“This was my mistake and I feel awful for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps, as well as to Michelle Obama“, said McIver.

Trump and Cruz have had a complicated relationship throughout the presidential campaign.