Former House Speaker John A. Boehner described Sen. Ted Cruz as “Lucifer in the flesh,” vowing to a crowd at Stanford University that he would not vote for the Republican presidential hopeful.
“I have Democrat friends and Republican friends. I get along with almost everyone, but I have never worked with a more miserable son of a bitch in my life,” the Ohio Republican said of Mr. Cruz Wednesday, according to the Stanford Daily.
The harsh words likely won’t upset Mr. Cruz since Mr. Boehner was forced out of the speaker’s chair under pressure from far-right conservatives which whom the Texan is aligned.
Mr. Cruz remains the chief rival to front-runner Donald Trump, although his only path to the nomination is through a contested Republican National Convention in July in Cleveland.
Still, Mr. Cruz is notorious for having poor relations with his colleagues in Congress. He has nevertheless garnered endorsements from lawmakers who view him as the only chance to block Mr. Trump from the nomination.
Mr. Boehner told the university audience that he was “texting buddies” with Mr. Trump, whom he said he would vote for as the party’s nominee.
SEE ALSO: Ted Cruz says John Boehner’s ‘Lucifer’ insult actually directed at American people
Mr. Boehner previously endorsed the third candidate still in the GOP race: Ohio Gov. John Kasich. That endorsement came before the Ohio primary, which so far has been the only contest won by Mr. Kasich.
Mr. Boehner said the governor “requires more effort on my behalf than all my other friends … but he’s still my friend, and I love him.”
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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