Ted Cruz: I 'Wondered If Boehner Was Auditioning To Be Trump's Vice President'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is questioning whether John Boehner was auditioning to be Donald Trump's running mate when the former House speaker called him "Lucifer in the flesh."
Cruz told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that a Trump-Boehner ticket would show that the "Washington cartel" is in control.
"If you think John Boehner is the kind of leader you want in the Republican Party, then Donald Trump is your candidate," the Republican presidential hopeful said. "I saw Boehner's comments. I kind of wondered if Boehner was auditioning to be Donald Trump's vice president. You know, a Trump-Boehner ticket would really say the Washington cartel in all its force. One has been funding the cartel. The other has been giving in to Democrats for years, which is why Boehner lost his speakership … We need, instead, someone fighting for the people and not for Washington."
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Last week, despite being mathematically eliminated from securing the 1,237 delegates needed for the nomination, Cruz named former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina his vice presidential nominee. Fiorina endorsed Cruz after dropping out of the Republican presidential race in February.
"One of the reasons this week that I announced Carly Fiorina as my vice presidential nominee is to provide a clear choice, a clear contrast to the voters," Cruz told "Face the Nation." "And I think there couldn't be a clearer choice between Carly and me on the one side, running on issues, running on substance, running on jobs and freedom and security and protecting the American people, versus Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on the other side."
The New York Times reported that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and Ben Carson are open to being Trump's running mate.
"If a potential president says I need you, it would be very hard for a patriotic citizen to say no," Gingrich told the Times. "People can criticize a nominee, but ultimately there are very few examples of people turning down the vice presidency."
Cruz also told "Face the Nation" he wasn't concerned about the possibility of violence if he was able to secure enough delegates for the nomination at a contested convention, but did warn Trump could "encourage riots" if he doesn't win.
"No, it won't, although Donald may do everything he can to encourage riots," Cruz said. "You know, overthrow is such a loaded spin word as … to bring nothing but chuckles."
Cruz continued, "When we arrive in Cleveland, I'm going to have a bunch of delegates. Donald's going to have a bunch of delegates, and it's going to be a battle to see who can earn the support of a majority of the delegates elected by the people."
On Saturday, Cruz won 10 of the 13 at-large delegates up elected at the Republican Party of Virginia's statewide convention at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.
Trump supporters won 3 and Ohio Gov. John Kasich's backers were shut out.
Cruz's victory would only matter if he can block Trump from clinching the nomination before the convention.
According to CBS News, Trump has accrued 993 delegates, while Cruz has gotten 562. Kasich has 152.
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