BETHPAGE, N.Y. — Donald Trump charged forward Wednesday after an embarrassing loss in the Wisconsin primary with a raucous homecoming here in New York, where he tore into his chief Republican presidential rival, Sen. Ted Cruz, over critical comments he previously made about “New York values.”
“Do you remember during the debate when he started lecturing me on ‘New York values,’ like we’re no good?” Trump said during a rally here in Bethpage.
“I started talking to him about the World Trade Center, the bravery, the incredible bravery of everybody,” he added. “We all know people that died. And I’ve got this guy standing over there looking at me talking about New York values with scorn, distaste, with hatred, with hatred. So folks, I think you can forget about him.”
Trump and his campaign have been under intense scrutiny since their loss to Cruz in Wisconsin on Tuesday, which many believe could represent a break in the momentum that has propelled the billionaire to victory after victory this primary season. With Cruz rising in national polls, anti-Trump conservatives are hopeful that Trump’s collection of delegates will slow, making a contested convention in July likelier. In that scenario, establishment Republicans uneasy about Trump’s candidacy would seek to install a consensus candidate in his place.
The rally, where an estimated 10,000 people gathered to hear the real estate mogul speak at Grumman Studios, injected a dose of energy after lackluster campaign rallies across Wisconsin last week.
Trump is expected win in New York’s primary April 19, where he is leading polls by double-digit margin. The campaign sees that primary, in addition to a series of Eastern contests later this month, as a likely firewall after a poor showing in Wisconsin.
“It’s great to be home,” Trump said. “I love these people! These are my people!”
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