Ted Cruz won't say Donald Trump's name, even when standing behind a Trump-Pence podium

Ted Cruz treats Donald Trump like Voldemort

Published November 4, 2016 7:31PM (EDT)

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2013 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, walks through tall grass during a pheasant hunt hosted by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, in Akron, Iowa. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2013 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, walks through tall grass during a pheasant hunt hosted by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, in Akron, Iowa. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz joined Republican vice-presidential nominee and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence at two campaign stops in Iowa and Michigan on Thursday.

Cruz, who refused to endorse Donald Trump during his speech at the Republican National Convention in July, similarly refused to mention the Republican presidential nominee's name in a stump speech in Prole, Iowa. This despite the unnerving images of "Lyin' Ted" speaking from a Trump 2016-labelled podium and emerging from "Trump Force 2":

Instead, Cruz appeared to be stumping for Pence, whom he called "a good man" who "loves this crowd," according to CNNIn Kalamazoo, Cruz mentioned Trump by name once.

"If your health insurance premiums have gone up, like just about every person's in America, then you ought to vote for Donald Trump and Mike Pence and Republicans up and down the ticket," Cruz told the Michigan crowd.

After his Iowa stump speech, when reporters asked him to explain why he hadn't mentioned by name the apish real estate mogul who once implied at arm's length that his wife was unattractive, Cruz announced that he voted for Trump and Pence on Monday.

"Well, I am here campaigning for Donald Trump for Mike Pence. I recognize some of you guys are wanting to write stories suggesting divisions among Republicans," Cruz told reporters. "I'll make a point — I am getting ready to get on a gigantic airplane that has Donald Trump's name painted on the side of it. On Monday of this week, I voted for Donald Trump. I voted for Mike Pence."


By Brendan Gauthier

Brendan Gauthier is a freelance writer.

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Campaign Trail Donald Trump Elections 2016 Iowa Michigan Mike Pence Stump Speech Ted Cruz