John Boehner: Ted Cruz Is 'Lucifer In The Flesh'
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Thursday that former House Speaker John Boehner let his "inner Trump come out'' when he called Cruz "Lucifer in the flesh'' during a talk to students at Stanford University.
Responding to comments made by Boehner in the town hall-style event Wednesday, Cruz attempted to turn Boehner's graphic criticism into a slam on Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump before a campaign stop in Fort Wayne, Indiana Thursday.
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Speaking Wednesday at a talk at Stanford University in California, the former Speaker of the House tore into Cruz when asked about his views on the current presidential election, the Stanford Daily reported.
Boehner made a face and told the Stanford audience that "I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life.''
"Over my dead body will he be president," Boehner said, according to CBS2's Tony Aiello.
But Cruz, when asked by reporters to react to the comments, said he had never worked with Boehner and would be surprised if they ever exchanged more than 50 words.
"The truth of the matter is I don't know the man,'' Cruz said. "I've met John Boehner two of three times in my life. If I have said 50 words in my life to John Boehner, I'd be surprised."
Cruz said Boehner's comments are proof of his campaign's claim that he is the anti-Washington candidate.
"Donald and Hillary are both Washington insiders," Cruz said.
Cruz added a message to voters: "When John Boehner calls me Lucifer, he's not directing that at me. He's directing that at you.''
According to the Daily, Boehner has more favorable views of the other GOP candidates, even referring to Trump as his "texting buddy."
Boehner said that he believed Trump would snag the nomination and he would most likely vote for him if he was named the Republican candidate, the Daily reported.
Cruz also responded to Boehner's remarks on Twitter Thursday morning.
"Tell me again who will stand up to Washington? Trump, who's Boehner's 'texing and golfing buddy?'" Cruz tweeted.
The Ohio Republican resigned last fall under pressure from conservatives allied with Cruz. Boehner's well-known contempt for the Texan stems in part from Cruz's role forcing a partial government shutdown in 2013.
Of Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Boehner said he "requires more effort on my behalf than all my other friends, but he's still my friend, and I love him.''
On Wednesday, Cruz named former technology executive and GOP candidate Carly Fiorina to run as his vice presidential nominee ahead of the Indiana primary, where the candidate has been campaigning heavily.
While Cruz and Fiorina were touring Indiana, Trump was onstage again with coaching legend Bobby Knight as the billionaire mocked the senator.
"He was saying, 'I am the only one who can beat Donald Trump and I've proven it time and time again.' Oh, please," Trump said.
There are only 10 states remaining on the GOP primary calendar, and Indiana, with 57 delegates at stake, is seen as a must-win for Cruz.
"If we win in Indiana, it's over," Trump said.
According to CBS News' latest tally, Trump has 977 of the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination. Cruz is second at 558, while Kasich has 152.
On the Democratic side, there are 92 delegates at stake next week. While Hillary Clinton has no public events Thursday, Sen. Bernie Sanders is campaigning in Oregon a day after downsizing his staff.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
