He also took a shot at Republicans who refused to even attend the convention and said there were other options he could have taken that could have been easier politically.
“There’s option number one, which a whole bunch of people took, which is turn tail and run and don’t come to the convention,” Mr. Cruz said. “There are a bunch of people that did that. I ain’t one of ‘em.”
He said the politically easy option is to “stand up and pledge your allegiance to whoever the party nominee might be, no matter what.”
“If you’re an elected official, that’s the right political outcome,” Mr. Cruz said.
“I’m not going to lie to you,” he told an attendee. “What I said last night is what I believe.”
At one point, Mr. Cruz told the audience he was happy to answer questions but he wasn’t going to engage in a “screaming match.”
“I actually believe in treating people with civility and respect,” he said.
“Let me ask folks here … how many of y’all would like to see more leaders stand up to John Boehner and Mitch McConnell?” Mr. Cruz asked, referring to the past House speaker and current Senate majority leader.
“Anytime you stand up to John Boehner and Mitch McConnell, leadership screams ‘support the team, you’re a Republican, we’re our leadership, sit down, shut up — just support the team,’ ” he said.
“And damn it, if that’s the price, I ain’t gonna do it. I’m gonna honor the commitments I made to the voters, instead,” Mr. Cruz said.
