“It’s like being shot or poisoned,” South Carolina Republican Senator and former presidential candidate Lindsey Graham had said as late as a month ago, about choosing between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, the frontrunners in the nomination race. Mr. Graham has, however, made the choice — to endorse Mr. Cruz. Come Monday, Mr. Graham will be organising a fundraising for Mr. Cruz.
“I think you get the same result, whether it’s quick or it takes a long time,” he had said earlier, about the certain death that awaited the Republican Party if either was the candidate.
Mr. Graham’s endorsement of Mr. Cruz came on a day that the candidate picked Frank Gaffney, a former official in the Ronald Reagan administration known for his Islamophobic positions, for his national security team. Among other things, Mr. Gaffney has said that President Barack Obama is a secret Muslim and Huma Abedin, the Indian-origin aide of Hillary Clinton is a covert agent of the Muslim Brotherhood. He has also accused Mr. Obama of undermining America’s missile capabilities to “appease” Islamic countries.
Mr. Cruz said of his new team: “These are trusted friends who will form a core of our broader national security team. After two terms of a failed Obama-Clinton foreign policy, our allies are confused and frightened, and our enemies are looking for opportunities.”
As the desperate efforts of the Republican establishment to stop Mr. Trump continue, they are even looking at Mr. Cruz as an option now. Earlier, the uncompromisingly ideological senator was considered more dangerous than Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump was considered a flexible dealmaker, with friends in both parties. Mr. Cruz on the other hand ridicules the entire leadership of the Republican Party as “corrupt Washington dealmakers.” Senator Marco Rubio, who dropped out of the race last week, is also moving closer to endorsing Mr. Cruz. Mr. Rubio said Mr. Cruz was the only conservative left in the field.
The contrast between Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz may not offer an easy choice for many. “I have real concerns about Donald Trump’s policies,” Mr. Cruz said earlier this week. “I think is, he is far too weak on radical Islamic terrorism.” Among his supporters are a wide range of Christian pastors who publicly advocate death penalty for gays. Mr. Cruz himself considers his presidential run as an act of Christian faith. Glen Beck, a conservative radio host whose show these days are a relentless campaign for Mr. Cruz said: “Our guy has the best chance of winning, because we have the Almighty God on our side!” Mr. Beck has been claiming on his shows that he received epiphanies that Mr. Cruz is the god’s chosen one. In a more earthly moment he lost his temper with Ohio Governor John Kasich who is staying put in the race. “Kasich, I mean, excuse my language, but, you son of a... the republic is at stake.”
