Ted Cruz Booed Off Republican Convention Stage After He Didn't Endorse Donald Trump
CLEVELAND (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Sen. Ted Cruz was booed off the Republican National Convention stage after not endorsing Donald Trump.
The crowd started turning on the senator from Texas after he told them to "vote your conscience."
"If you love our country and love your children as much as I know that you do, stand and speak and 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," Cruz said.
Those in the crowd chanted back at Cruz, "Endorse Trump."
"The case we have to make to the American people, the case each person in this room has to make to the American people, is to commit to each of them, that we will defend freedom and be faithful to the Constitution," Cruz said.
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During Cruz's speech, there were electrical problems in the arena that caused glitches in the screen behind him, even going out at one point.
While Cruz was ending his speech to a chorus of boos, Trump entered the convention hall to cheers of supporters.
CBS News' Scott Pelley said Trump completely stole the room from Cruz when he walked in.
Before the crowd turned on him, Cruz was cheered throughout his speech as he called for a "return to freedom."
"Freedom means every human life is precious and must be protected," Cruz said.
Cruz only mentioned Trump's name once, at the beginning of his speech.
"I want to congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination last night, and like each of you, I want to see the principles our party believes prevail in November," the senator said.
However, Cruz backed some of Trump's policy proposals, including building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
He also heaped criticism on Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration.
"He exports jobs and imports terrorists," Cruz said of President Barack Obama.
CBS News reports people were shouting "Goldman Sachs" at Cruz's wife, Heidi, as she left the convention floor.
Trump tweeted that Cruz's speech was "no big deal."
"Wow, Ted Cruz got booed off the stage, didn't honor the pledge! I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway. No big deal!" Trump posted on Twitter.
Trump and Cruz engaged in bitter recriminations during the Republican primaries. Trump repeatedly referred to Cruz as "Lyin' Ted." Cruz said Trump was a "pathological liar."
However, former rivals Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis., threw their support behind Trump.
"After a long and spirited primary, the time for fighting each other is over, it's time to come together and fight for a new direction in November," Rubio said on video. "It's time to win in November."
Walker told the crowd earlier in the night "America deserves better" than Hillary Clinton.
"A vote for anyone other than Donald Trump in November is a vote for Hillary Clinton," Walker said. "Make no mistake, we can't wait four years to get them next time, the consequences are too great."
Walker also touched on the scandal surrounding Clinton's private email server while secretary of state.
"I wouldn't even give Hillary Clinton the password to my iPhone, let alone access to classified information," Walker said.
Trump, who will address the convention Thursday night, cheered on the night's proceedings via Twitter. After Walker's remarks, Trump wrote, "Great speech!"
(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.)
