By Bronte Price, PoliticKING
Amid rising tensions in the Republican party, all three remaining candidates rescinded their promise to vote for whoever becomes the party’s nominee. During a town hall hosted by CNN in Milwaukee on Tuesday night, the Republican candidates refused to commit support for anyone but themselves.
Anderson Cooper, who moderated the event, asked Trump whether he would support the eventual nominee regardless of who it was, to which Trump responded, "no."
"I have been treated very unfairly," Trump said, citing his frustration with the RNC. He added that he is not vying for Ted Cruz’s support, either. "He does not have to support me," Trump said. "I am not asking for his support."
Donald Trump says he won't promise to support #Republican nominee if it's not him #GOPTownHall
— Ora Politics (@OraPolitics) March 30, 2016
When Cruz was asked if he would support the nominee, he failed to answer the question saying, "Donald is not going to be the GOP nominee. We are going to beat him." Although Cruz didn’t categorically refuse to back Trump, he didn’t pledge his support either. Cruz added that nominating Trump would be a "train wreck" and would result in an easy win for Hillary.
Kasich also skirted the question saying that it would have been much better if none of the candidates had made the promise in the first place. "I have got to see what happens," Kasich said. "If the nominee is somebody I think is really hurting the country and dividing the country, I can't stand behind them."
Takeaways from the GOP town hall https://t.co/sGgCDvAg46#teamfollowback
— Mr. News Man (@MrNewsMan_) March 30, 2016
The candidate’s lack of support for eachother points to the gaping divide plaguing the Republican party as it heads into Wisconsin's crucial April 5 primary. The party’s fragile unity is being tested by Trump’s anti-establishment campaign and Capitol Hill’s distaste for Ted Cruz, the second place candidate. John Kasich is the only establishment candidate still in the race, but is far behind in delegates and has been floundering in the polls from the start. Trump’s popularity amongst voters has led to the possibility of a contested convention. That option could backfire against the party, though, if Trump’s supporters decide not to vote for the alternative candidate in the general election.
Here’s what Richard Dreyfuss has to say about the state of the GOP:
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC, its affiliates, or its employees.
