The Cruz-Trump rivalry has reached a new low.
Ted Cruz is using Gestapo tactics to get delegates, according to Donald Trump’s new convention manager, Paul Manafort. When asked whether it is fair game to threaten delegates, Manafort answered in a recent NBC News interview that it is not his style or Trump’s style but it is what Cruz is doing.
Manafort added that Cruz’s campaign methods involved scorch-earth tactics. Although Manafort was unable to state specific incidences wherein Cruz used such tactics, he said that his camp will file protests because Cruz is not playing by the rules.
Either the accusations are correct or not, but this might be a case of playing the victim card after losing a significant number of votes from delegates. Trump recently lost Wisconsin and Colorado to Cruz, causing further friction in the Cruz-Trump rivalry.
In a FoxNews interview, Trump was furious by the recent results and he is claiming that the system is rigged. According to Trump, Cruz camp did some vote-buying and prevented some Colorado delegates to vote in the primaries.
Although still leading by a large margin, Trump faces the possibility of losing the nomination. Trump’s meteoric rise could be largely attributed to his politically incorrect rhetoric that many Republican voters seem to be embracing out of frustration and desperation.
For many, Trump has offered an alternative “strong,” albeit misguided, stance on certain issues like immigration, foreign policy and economic reforms.
The host of the Meet the Press program, Chuck Todd, pointed out while interviewing Manafort that the Trump camp also used some form of intimidation. It seems that the Godwin law is at play here as both camps are accusing each other of Nazi-related tactics.
The convention manager did not deny the possibility that they could use semi-bribery by showering delegates with gifts. However, he emphasized that their main tactic is to persuade the delegates with Trump’s message. What then is the fundamental difference in the Cruz-Trump rivalry?
What could be that persuasive message? Well, if previous speeches can be used as a basis, Trump has nothing much to offer but fear and hate.
Featured image screengrab via YouTube.
