INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz ended his presidential campaign Tuesday, eliminating the biggest impediment to Donald Trump’s march to the Republican nomination.
The conservative tea party firebrand who tried to cast himself as the only viable alternative to Trump ended his campaign after a stinging defeat in Indiana’s Republican primary.
“It appears that path has been foreclosed,” Cruz told supporters in Indianapolis. “Together, we left it all on the field of Indiana. We gave it everything we’ve got, but the voters chose another path, and so with a heavy heart but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign.”
Had he succeeded in his quest, Cruz would have been the first U.S. president of Hispanic descent, although he often downplayed his heritage on the campaign trail, instead, touting the need for tougher immigration laws, for a border wall along the border with Mexico, protecting gun rights, repealing President Barack Obama’s health care law and instituting a flat tax.
Cruz argued he was the only true conservative in the race, building on his reputation in the Senate where he clashed both with Democrats and members of his own party over his ideological stubbornness. Cruz railed against what he called the “Washington cartel,” trying to appeal to an electorate that is craving political outsiders.
But he ultimately couldn’t compete with Trump’s appeal among white, working class voters who were drawn to the billionaire’s outlandish approach to politics.
Cruz’s campaign placed its hopes on a data-driven effort to turn out conservative evangelical Christians who had opted out of recent presidential elections. Increasingly, he would modify his travel schedule to go where data showed there might be pockets of untapped supporters.
With the scale tipping increasingly in Trump’s favor, he announced an extraordinary pact in April with his other rival, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, in which the two would divide their time and resources based on states where they were each poised to do better.
Days later, he prematurely named former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina as his running mate, hoping it would woo some of the female voters turned off by Trump’s brash rhetoric.
Trump’s appeal to evangelicals, though, and the New York billionaire’s popularity with the broader Republican electorate, proved too much.
Cruz was joined on stage by his wife and parents, as well as by Fiorina.
He made no mention of the Republican front-runner, vowing instead to continue his fight for liberty and for the Constitution.
Story by: SCOTT BAUER and STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press. Peoples reported from Washington.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Twitter: @STGnews
Good, about time he takes his own advice.
YAY!
Wooooohooooooo. Cya. !
Time down to take down the vile, disingenuous Hillary.
I would be happy to never have to hear this man’s voice again in my entire life.
Yeah I’m sure he cares what you think. he’s gonna be around for awhile. You haven’t heard the last of him or his voice by any means
Looks like Trump succeeded in pulling a fast one on everyone. Up until 2009, Trump was a die hard Democrat. He’s a New Yorker and has friends in Wall Street and other deal makers there. Probably even voted for Obama in 2008. Being the shifty business man he is, he saw an opportunity to obtain the GOP nomination and pretend to run for president on the Republican ticket. He did this by lying, bullying and shoving his way to where he now stands. However, it’s all about the Deal. Why be president with all the BS that follows that around when he can throw the race in October and give the presidency to Hillary. They are good friends still. There’s a lot more money to be made by having a good friend as president than actually being president. That’s what I see happening. Its all about the “Art of the Deal” Y’all just got taken. Suckers !!
Trump won’t have to throw the race. He can just be his charming and knowledgeable self.
” Y’all just got taken. Suckers !!” The “y’all” you refer to are Republican voters, and if they are such suckers, then they deserve to be taken advantage of. Stupidity of this magnitude should be punished in a “survival of the fittest” political world. Anyone who reflexively votes Republican has a share of blame in this debacle.
Chris – the same way that Democratic voters share the blame if they vote for a self-proclaimed Socialist or a person with a record of horrible decision making and zero integrity.
And yet… come election time you will vote for him simply because he ran on the Republican ticket and will deny you ever wrote that comment.
Think realistically, it’s not about what Trump was, it’s about what Trump is and what he can accomplish if he becomes president. You are the sucker, and a not very bright one at that. Now go vote for Hildebeast and try to be happy on your welfare check. Sorry, your credit card.
Lastdays – do you also think that the moon landing didn’t really happen?
Henry….I bet lastdays thinks the moon is fake LOL !
If his Bishop or another Mormon cult leader didn’t say it, Lastdays doesn’t believe it.
Henry,,, That was a GREAT response!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha LOL ! Hey bring on the Donald haters now. ha ha ha. Wooooohooooooo