CLEVELAND — Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., addressed Ted Cruz’s refusal to endorse Donald Trump by recalling the Texas senator’s praise for the real estate mogul during the primary season.
“Ted has said that Donald is terrific and he speaks the truth so hopefully they can get over their differences soon,” Cotton said during a panel at the Politico Hub.
That’s a much gentler comment than the attacks on Cruz from other Republicans who back Trump. But it also evokes one of the chief frustrations of Trump’s critics, who dislike that Cruz refused to attack Trump early in the GOP primaries at a time when other candidates such as Jeb Bush had begun to take aim at the eventual winner.
Cruz’s exhortation that voters “vote their conscience” this fall provoked boos and chants that he should endorse Trump Wednesday night. Cotton also spoke at the convention, and his remarks were scarcely more supportive of Trump, but didn’t provoke the same display of anger. “In a Trump-Pence administration and with a Republican Congress, help is on the way,” Cotton said.
That was Cotton’s only reference to the GOP’s 2016 standard-bearer. In time, the speeches might function as the first step down the 2020 campaign trail, which could put Cruz and Cotton on a collision course.
“Ted’s a senator, he’s going to be senator for the 2 1/2 more years, then he’s running for re-election,” Cotton said. “He’s a member of our caucus, he’s a smart guy and brings a lot to the caucus in various ways. So, everybody has to work with him one way or another. I certainly will.”
