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A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 18 auguSt 2018

Trump help for Cruz could spell new twist for odd couple

supporters would flock to Cruz remains favored in the
him if their candidate’s me- race, but told hundreds
teoric rise flamed out. The who thronged the Temple
two later clashed bitterly rally, “We’ve got a battle
as Cruz finished second on our hands.”
for the GOP nomination, “The far left is angry,” he
with Trump suggesting that said. “They’re energized
Cruz’s Cuban-born father and they’re filled with rage
had a hand in John F. Ken- and fury at the president.
nedy’s assassination. That’s dangerous.”
Cruz responded that Trump In one indication that Cruz
was “utterly amoral” and still hasn’t lived the presi-
refused to endorse him dential race down, a pro-
during their party’s con- tester interrupted him with
vention in Cleveland, only cries of “Lyin’ Ted,” Trump’s
to suddenly announce his trademark 2016 insult for
support barely a month Cruz.
before Election Day 2016. And, when the senator ac-
Neither has apologized for cused O’Rourke of being
their earlier harsh words, open to impeaching the
but Cruz says his office now president, a man bellowed
speaks to the White House “For what?” dissipating the
weekly — sometimes daily anti-O’Rourke gasps Cruz
— about policy. was hoping to elicit.
“There’s no doubt my re- Olga Bradley, a retired Vet-
lationship with Donald erans Administration em-
In this Aug. 10, 2018 photo, Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, left, poses with Gary Malcik following Trump has had its ups and ployee, said she came to
a campaign stop in Temple, Texas. downs,” Cruz said, adding the Temple rally because
Associated Press that, since 2016, on issues she wanted to be reas-
By WILL WEISSERT to Texas before November Republicans who want like pulling out of the Paris sured that Cruz would de-
Associated Press — though he shrugged off to demonstrate loyalty to climate agreement, “I’ve fend Trump after his past
TEMPLE, Texas (AP) — Gary suggestions he needs the someone the Republican been very grateful that the opposition. She said she’d
Malcik wore a Trump T-shirt president’s coattails to win. base loves, but who also president has listened to repeatedly ignored phone
as he waited in a long, “In the last year and a half, thrived before his rise — me and agreed with my calls seeking support from
post-rally line to pose for we have seen major victo- and hope to continue to do position.” the Cruz campaign while
pictures with Ted Cruz. ries for Texans,” Cruz said so after he’s gone. Com- The White House hasn’t she awaited further evi-
It was a far cry from the moments after posing with plicating matters is Cruz’s commented on the pros- dence.
waning weeks of the 2016 Malcik at a barbecue res- refusal to rule out running pect of Trump campaign- “We want politicians who
GOP presidential primary, taurant whose walls were again for president after ing in Texas. But the presi- support the president,” said
when Donald Trump sup- cluttered with hunting tro- Trump leaves the White dent has dropped into a Bradley, 72, who agreed
porters repeatedly heckled phies in Temple, 130 miles House, even if the political number of battleground with a friend wearing a
the Texas senator at cam- (210 kilometers) south of contortions get awkward in states, visiting Pennsylva- “Make American Great
paign events, and from Dallas. the meantime. nia, Alabama and Ohio Again” baseball cap who
that year’s Republican Na- Trump has visited Texas five “It gets awfully hard to talk before elections there this quipped that a joint Trump-
tional Convention when times as president, includ- glowingly about a guy year. Cruz rally in Texas would
Cruz was booed for refus- ing after Hurricane Harvey when you openly pined for O’Rourke, a one-time punk be so well attended that
ing to endorse the party’s and to address the Na- his job,” said Joe Brettell, rocker who has spent the “they’d better have it in a
nominee. But Malcik, 69 tional Rifle Association’s an- a Republican strategist in past 18 months visiting all 10,000-acre field.”
and self-employed, said nual convention. Still, the Houston who nonetheless of Texas’ 254 counties, has Malcik said he wasn’t wor-
he’s glad to no longer have prospect of his potentially conceded that Cruz “has consistently outraised Cruz, ried about Trump-Cruz awk-
to choose sides. boosting candidate Cruz no other choice. Donald including raking in $10.4 mil- wardness but is afraid that
“People like Ted,” he said. creates another twist in the Trump’s going to be presi- lion to the incumbent’s $4.6 O’Rourke can stay within
“People love Trump.” awkward dance of one of dent for at least two more million during the three- striking distance of Cruz.
Now facing a high-profile the leading odd couples in years.” month period through “If Trump came down it
re-election fight with Dem- all of politics. Cruz spent the early months June. His campaign de- would be a lot easier,” Mal-
ocratic Congressman Beto The off-again, on-again re- of the 2016 presidential clined to comment about cik said.
O’Rourke, Cruz says he’d lationship lays bare just how race praising Trump, bet- the prospect of Trump “He’d really pull him over
welcome Trump coming uncomfortable Trump is for ting that the reality TV star’s coming to Texas. the finish line.”q