Cruz barely mentions Trump - and is booed off RNC stage

CLEVELAND - Acrimony between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz erupted in a stunning prime-time show of rancor Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention, as a once-rapt crowd angrily booed the Texas senator off the stage.

Cruz, still revered on the right, had arrived to raucous cheers as many Republicans hoped for a display of unity heading into the general election.

What they got, though, was a lengthy address that used Trump's name just once and did not even endorse the nominee. It seemed more like a Cruz campaign speech. Trump's family members sat still as they watched, not applauding.

By the end, catcalls and boos rained down from the thousands in Quicken Loans Arena, with some chanting "Trump," the name Cruz hardly mentioned.

Those in the Trump VIP box then clapped - to the audience raining down boos.

"I want to congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination last night," Cruz said in the only direct mention of Trump in his roughly 1,500-word speech.

Rather than making a case for the nominee, Cruz said Republicans are fighting "not for any one particular candidate or one campaign," and urged the GOP faithful to "vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution."

The phrase vote your conscience echoed words heavily used in recent months by the so-called Never-Trump movement.

Gov. Christie told CNN that Cruz's speech was "awful and selfish." Trump later tweeted that he had reviewed Cruz's speech ahead of time and thought it was "no big deal."

Cruz was the most highly anticipated of three one-time Trump rivals who spoke Wednesday night amid high stakes for themselves and their party.

Republicans were seeking a show of togetherness after a bruising primary that included Trump branding Cruz "Lyin' Ted" and tweeting an insulting photo of the senator's wife.

Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker are all young enough to consider another run for the presidency, and had a chance to impress the party faithful.

Wednesday night, they delivered varying levels of enthusiasm for Trump.

None, of course, have matched the fervor of the likes of Ben Carson or Christie, who have become two of Trump's top surrogates and gave their own fiery speeches Tuesday.

On the other side have been Jeb Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who have refused to endorse Trump or appear at the convention, and have lamented the nominee's tactics and tone.

On Wednesday, Walker gave the most hearty endorsement.

"Last August, right here in Cleveland, I stood on this stage and I said that any of the Republicans running for office would be better than Hillary Clinton," he said. "So let me be clear: A vote for anyone other than Donald Trump in November is a vote for Hillary Clinton."

Rubio tread more cautiously.

Seeking reelection in a swing state, the Floridian - whom Trump had derided as "Little Marco" - did not travel to Cleveland, and delivered only a roughly 80-second recorded message here in a brief video message.

"After a long and spirited primary, the time for fighting each other is over," Rubio said, "It's time to come together and fight for a new direction for America."

Delegates on the floor had hoped for a united front.

"Leadership means doing things that maybe are not exactly what you wished they were, but are necessary," said Brian Westrate, a Wisconsin delegate and Walker supporter. "God bless John Kasich, but to me it seems like a failure of leadership for him to not, A, keep his word, and B, lead anyway."

Before Cruz's speech, Texas delegate Jonelle Fields said she understood his reluctance to endorse Trump - she still worries about the nominee's views on abortion. But Fields said it was important for Cruz to aid Trump for the good of the party.

"The primary process, it's over," said Mark McCaig, of Texas. "It's important at the end of the day to respect the will of our Republican primary voters."

At the end of the night, thousands of voters here made their voices heard once again. Their voices rebuked Cruz.

jtamari@phillynews.com

@JonathanTamari

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