WASHINGTON — One Republican congressional leader thinks Texas Sen. [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore] may not want any further endorsements from his fellow GOP members in the upper chamber.
Senate Republican Conference Chair [crscore]John Thune[/crscore] told The Daily Caller it is “hard to say” if any more GOP senators would want to endorse Cruz.
“I think there are individual senators who probably have had discussions with the campaign, but frankly, I’m not sure Sen. Cruz wants members of the establishment endorsing him,” the South Dakota Republican said.
He explained, “It’s kind of been the kiss of death around [here], but I think there’s been discussions going on between the campaign and senators and probably will continue well into the convention. I don’t know of anybody I heard of making any endorsements any time soon.”
Cruz’s friend, Utah Republican Sen. [crscore]Mike Lee[/crscore], endorsed the Texan last month and South Carolina Sen. [crscore]Lindsey Graham[/crscore] followed, but other endorsements have not surfaced since Graham’s endorsement of his former rival in the presidential primary.
“People asked me, ‘Why did you do this?’ I said, ‘It’s pretty clear to me we need to stop Donald Trump.’ I think he’s a disaster. Ted Cruz has the best narrative in terms of success that I think he’s probably within the Republican Party.,” Graham told The Daily Caller.
“He’s got the best chance to win these states to stop Trump and that he’s earned in my view. If he can do that, we have far more in common. I like John Kasich. I just don’t see John being to be as viable an alternative to Trump as Cruz,” Graham added, noting if Cruz won Wisconsin, other members may feel more comfortable endorsing him.
However, Cruz’s fellow Texas Republican Sen. [crscore]John Cornyn[/crscore], the Senate Majority Whip, told TheDC he has no plans to endorse Cruz in the near future.
“I don’t think the voters particularly care about senator endorsements. I think they want to choose and I’m certainly deferring to their choice and I’ll support the nominee whoever that is,” Cornyn said.
Florida Republican Sen. [crscore]Marco Rubio[/crscore], who will leave Congress after the election, has held out on endorsing Cruz and, according to The New York Times, that has affected donors from stepping up and supporting the Texas GOPer.
Senate Majority Leader [crscore]Mitch McConnell[/crscore] would not say if bad feelings still existed between him and Cruz as a result of a strained relationship that led to Cruz calling the McConnell a “liar.”
In the meantime, Cruz enjoys support from other lawmakers including 41 Texas State lawmakers and 24 congressmen.