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Friday, April 29, 2016

Indiana Democratic Party Statement on Mike Pence's Endorsement of Ted Cruz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Drew Anderson
Phone: 765-432-3231 or danderson@indems.org
April 29, 2016

John Zody, Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, released the following statement after Governor Mike Pence formally endorsed Ted Cruz for President of the United States. 


“Mike Pence’s endorsement of Ted Cruz is no surprise as both politicians have built their careers obsessing over a social agenda rather than focusing on economic issues most important to Hoosiers. After Mike Pence signed the embarrassing and unnecessary RFRA law that could cost our state $250 million and will continue to scare jobs away from Indiana, Ted Cruz supported the governor and advocated that the federal government adopt a similar law. Mike Pence signed one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation; Ted Cruz has said rape victims should be forced to carry pregnancies to term. Ted Cruz has campaigned for president on an extremist, divisive ideology, and Mike Pence has put that same extreme ideology into practice, causing Indiana to fall behind the rest of the nation. This endorsement may grab headlines, but Mike Pence has said he would vote for whoever is the Republican nominee – even if it’s Donald Trump.” 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Pence endorsed David McIntosh over Mitch Daniels. "Getting through the primary will be more challenging for Mitch. Nobody knows where he stands on several issues," he said. "Washington-speak does not work in Indiana." Still, Daniels' support by party regulars is so strong that U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., who holds McIntosh's old seat and will be a co-chairman of his campaign, explained his endorsement by saying he had promised his backing to McIntosh. "I'm pained, but I'll stand by my word," Pence said. "There's nobody in Indiana politics I respect more than Mitch Daniels. As much, but not more." [Indianapolis Star, 5/18/03]