Prominent conservative writer and talk show host Mark Levin is scolding Donald Trump for unleashing a furious Twitter attack on Ted Cruz, a notable rebuke from a wing of the Republican Party that Trump needs in order to capture the Iowa caucuses.
Levin, a tea party favorite, took to Facebook on Saturday to slam the real-estate mogul over his attacks against Cruz, adding that Trump should “either cut the crap” or he “will lose lots and lots of conservatives” as supporters.
“Put down your computer keyboard for a few hours, think before you tweet, and collect yourself,” Levin wrote. “I am already hearing more and more people getting fed up with the low road you’re taking against Cruz, which has obviously intensified this morning.”
Levin’s post includes a link to a related Daily Caller story about Trump’s continued Twitter rant.
Levin has not yet endorsed a candidate in the 2016 election, but has spoken highly of Cruz before. In October, Levin said on his radio show that Cruz is the “most consistently conservative candidate running.”
Trump slammed Cruz on Twitter throughout Saturday on a host of issues, including the Texas senator’s “New York values” comment and New York Times reports about loans he received during his 2012 Senate campaign that he did not disclose. The Republican front-runner, who was either unaware of Levin’s criticism or disregarded it, continued his Cruz attacks after Levin published his post.
Cruz responded to Trump’s tirade Saturday morning, saying it was Trump’s way of attacking Cruz since they’re close in polls.
“I would note that Donald’s record does not match what he says as a candidate,” Cruz told reporters in Fort Mill, South Carolina, on Saturday. “I think in terms of a commander in chief, we ought to have someone who isn’t springing out of bed to tweet in a frantic response to the latest polls.”