With all the mud-slinging and controversy surrounding the 2016 presidential campaign, it was almost no surprise to hear Republican front-runner Donald Trump state that he will no longer be honoring his pledge to support whoever is the party's nominee for the presidential election on Tuesday. That means that for Trump, it's either he endorses himself, or he endorses no one at all.
Not to be outdone, the other two Republican candidates, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, also said that they are taking back their pledges, as well. Just like Trump, Kasich said that he would not be supporting Trump if ever he does become the party's selected candidate. Cruz, on the other hand, stated that he would be having a hard time supporting Trump if ever he wins the nomination.
The notable declarations were given during a town hall in Milwaukee, which was moderated by Anderson Cooper. Strong words were exchanged, actions were defended and accusations were thrown during the town hall.
It was pretty much what a lot of Americans expected from an event that would see rivals Trump and Cruz in the same room. With Kasich added to the mix, the ingredients for an intense forum were all there. Needless to say, the town hall did not disappoint.
Cruz was the first to draw blood, citing Trump's recent attacks on his wife.
"I'm not in the habit of supporting someone who attacked my wife and attacked my family. I think that is going beyond the line. I'm not an easy person to tick off, but when you go after my wife, when you go after my daughters, that does it," he said.
Retorting to Cruz's statements, Trump simply brushed off them off, saying that he does not need Cruz's help in the first place. He also expressed his disappointment in the Republican party, alleging that he is being treated unfairly.
"When somebody goes in and wins the election and gets less delegates than the guy that lost, I don't think that's right. He doesn't have to support me. I have many many more delegates than him. I don't want to make people uncomfortable. I don't need their support," Trump said.
Perhaps one of the most notable statements during the night, however, came from the man who is currently last in the GOP race. In a moment that incited arguably the loudest cheers from the audience, Kasich stated that the dirty tactics and overall bitterness of the campaign are setting a bad example for America's children.
"If name-calling, bringing in spouses, ripping each other below the belt and wrestling in the mud is the new politics, we all need to stand against it. Our children are watching. This is America. I'm not going to go down there. I could screw up, but I hope not," he said.
