CNN presses for the only Donald Trump fight that has yet to happen
Marco Rubio? Check.
Ben Carson? Check.
Chris Christie? Check.
Carly Fiorina? John Kasich? Rand Paul? Check, check, check.
That left one candidate on the Republican debate stage Tuesday that Donald Trump had yet to really attack: Ted Cruz.
The Texas senator had spent his campaign avoiding criticism of or from Trump, often aligning himself with the billionaire frontrunner in an attempt to perhaps attract some Trump supporters to his team.
That was before Cruz surpassed Trump in Iowa polls, thus making him a target for the Donald, who threw a few barbs toward the senator over the weekend.
As expected, CNN looked to stoke that fire Tuesday night.
Cruz, however, wouldn’t take the bait, even when CNN panelist Hugh Hewitt asked if he differed with Trump on his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States.
“Everyone understands why Donald has suggested what he has,’’ said Cruz, who then pivoted to attack President Barack Obama for his proposal to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to the United States.
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Hewitt, however, pressed for the fight.
“You disagree because he’s too broad and you have a narrower focus?’’ asked the host, hinting at a Senate bill Cruz introduced that he said is “more narrowly focused.’’
Cruz elaborated, transcription per the Washington Post.
Well, you know, I’m reminded of what FDR’s grandfather said. He said, “All horse-thieves are Democrats, but not all Democrats are horse-thieves.’’ In this instance, there are millions of peaceful Muslims across the world, in countries like India, where there is not the problems we are seeing in nations that are controlled — have territory controlled by al-Qaeda or ISIS, and we should direct at the problem, focus on the problem, and defeat radical Islamic terrorism. It’s not a war on a faith; it’s a war on a political and theocratic ideology that seeks to murder us.
Trump first went after Cruz over the weekend, calling his fellow anti-establishment GOP candidate “a little bit of a maniac,’’ after audio of Cruz questioning Trump’s judgement during a private fundraiser was obtained by The New York Times.
“When you look at the way he’s dealt with the Senate, where he goes in there, like a, you know, frankly like a little bit of a maniac, you’re never going to get things done that way,’’ Trump told Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday.
Cruz still refused to publicly take on Trump — deflecting expertly on social media.
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Polls havefound more Trump supporters pick Cruz as their second choice than any other candidate, underlining Cruz’s coziness with Trump (the two even appeared together at a September rally, at Cruz’s invitation), as opposed to the attack strategy other candidates have taken.
Near the end of the debate, CNN again pushed for a Trump-Cruz conflict. First, panelist Dana Bash asked Trump, given his “maniac’’ comment, if Cruz had the temperment to be president.
“He has a wonderful temperment,’’ Trump said, reaching out to pat Cruz on the back. “He’s just fine, don’t worry about it.’’
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Bash then turned to Cruz, asking about his private comments about Trump’s judgement and noting that Cruz had refrained from attacking Trump.
“You better not attack,’’ Trump reminded Cruz, with a laugh.
“What I said is exactly what I said here,’’ Cruz said. “Voters will have to decide who has the judgement to be commander-in-chief.’’
The Texas senator then launched into an anecdote about his daughters and national security, before Bash tried to bring him back to the question, again asking if he thought Trump had the necessary judgement to be president.
“That is a judgement for every voter to make,’’ Cruz said.
CNN’s Chris Cuomo asked Trump after the debate ended why he hadn’t attacked Cruz.
“I thought he was very respectful and nice,’’ Trump said. “And I have great respect for that.’’
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