Mike Pence’s radio endorsement of Ted Cruz was watered down by praise also for Donald Trump.
It was a weird endorsement — he said all the right things about Cruz, but an endorsement is not the time for balance.
Pence has an op-ed in The Indianapolis Star in which he repeats the endorsement, without the watering down:
… While I like and respect each of our candidates, I am voting for Ted Cruz on Tuesday.In making my decision to support Ted, I am guided by the principles best espoused by former President Ronald Reagan. I am a Reagan Republican; drawn to his vision of less taxes, less government, traditional values and a strong military. Ted articulates that same agenda with an unwavering devotion to our Constitution, the sanctity of life, and the freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights.Here in Indiana, our economy is among the best in the nation. We have cut taxes every year since I was elected governor and have seen businesses create more than 130,000 private sector jobs, decreasing unemployment from over 8% to 5% today. Manufacturing makes up 30% of our gross state product – the highest share in the nation – in part because we have worked together to create a friendly pro-business environment so that more companies choose to open up shop in Indiana and provide our citizens’ with good-paying jobs.Ted’s plan to lower and simplify taxes also favors manufacturers: they pay no tax on exports, encouraging more companies to come to Indiana and the rest of America’s heartland, rather than transport jobs overseas….Ted has a plan to eliminate excessive government programs and has taken on big-government overreach. He led the fight to repeal Obamacare, one of the greatest burdens on families and small businesses and I have no doubt he will follow through in checking government power to restore prosperity to the people…. The eyes of the nation are looking to Indiana to make a choice. I encourage every Hoosier to evaluate each of the candidates and exercise your right to vote in the May 3 Primary. My vote goes to Ted Cruz because he is a principled conservative who will work to protect our constitutional liberties, bring back better-paying jobs, and serve all Americans with the character and judgment needed to revive our national strength.
That last line sure about character and judgment sure sounds like a swipe at Trump.
Tuesday night is when it all comes down. Trump is ahead in most polls, thought the polling is not heavy.
Here’s to hoping Ted pulls out a win in Indiana, and manages to take this to the convention floor.
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