Round 2: Trump, Romney spar again over Republican nomination
Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump and former GOP nominee Mitt Romney began a new round in their war of words on Friday, after Romney said he would vote for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the upcoming Utah caucus.
Despite the statement, Romney didn't exactly endorse Cruz. Romney acknowledged he had campaigned alongside Republican presidential candidate John Kasich, but said supporting Cruz was the GOP's best chance to prevent Trump from locking up the nomination with the required 1,237 delegates.
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"Today, there is a contest between Trumpism and Republicanism," Romney said in a statement on Facebook. "Through the calculated statements of its leader, Trumpism has become associated with racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence. I am repulsed by each and every one of these."
"Today, there is a contest between Trumpism and Republicanism," Mitt Romney said.
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Trump soon blasted Romney on Twitter, making fun of the former candidate for losing his bid for the presidency.
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Romney gave a speech against Trump in March as part of the Republican establishment's crusade against the insurgent frontrunner.
His not-exactly-ringing "endorsement" of Cruz is indicative of the party's "anyone but Trump" strategy.
The GOP establishment doesn't like Cruz, either, but by supporting him they understand they can stop Trump from getting the required delegates and moving on to the general election. If their plan works, they will likely try to nominate someone else in July through a process known as a "brokered convention."
Trump recently warned of "riots" if the GOP establishment blocked him from the nomination.
"I think you would have problems like you’ve never seen before," Trump said after a series of primary victories earlier this week. "I think bad things would happen, I really do."
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Topics Donald Trump Elections President
Colin is Mashable's US & World Reporter. He previously interned at Foreign Policy magazine and The American Prospect. Colin is a graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When he's not at Mashable, you can most likely find him eating or playing some kind of sport.
