By Hunter Hines
Christian Action League
March 18, 2016
North Carolina’s Democratic and Republican parties held their primary elections for President on Tuesday. Democrats elected Hillary Clinton, while Republicans chose Donald Trump.
Thursday of last week the Christian Action League endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz for President. It was the first time in its history the League had ever endorsed a presidential candidate. Cruz was behind the front-runner more than 10 points in most polls, but lost the state by only three points, even when other candidates were still in the race and on the ballot.
“The League’s decision to back Cruz was to provide some leadership to evangelicals,” said Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League. “It’s not true that all evangelicals are running after Trump, certain stats indicate only about a third support him and there is some question as to whether many of those who are professing to be evangelical actually fall under its definition. But in our mind, there is no question Cruz has superior conservative credentials and a Christian testimony in good standing as opposed to the Republican front-runner. Moreover, evangelicals supported some of the other candidates on the ballot, even some who had suspended their campaigns. And that was, unquestionably, a negative for the Senator from Texas.”
Read Christian Action League endorsement by clicking here
According to the New York Times, these were the North Carolina Primary results:
Democrats
Hillary Clinton – 54.6%
Bernie Sanders – 40.8%
Other – 4.7%
Delegates
Hillary Clinton – 59
Bernie Sanders – 45
Republicans
Donald Trump – 40.2%
Ted Cruz – 36.8%
John Kasich – 12.7%
Marco Rubio – 7.7%
Other – 2.6%
Delegates
Donald Trump – 29
Ted Cruz – 27
John Kasich – 9
Marco Rubio – 6
Unlike states such as Florida and Ohio, which are winner-take-all delegate states, North Carolina awards its delegates proportionally.
“It’s always difficult to know how much an endorsement actually helps a candidate, but I believe the League’s endorsement of Justice Paul Newby for the state Supreme Court in 2012 helped him to win after he was behind in the polls. I would like to believe our endorsement of Cruz helped him during this year’s tough primary bout. I think the results indicate it probably did. Despite that he was still competing against Rubio and Kasich who took more than 20% of the Republican vote together and 15 of the state’s delegates, Cruz still walked away with 27 delegates as opposed to Trump’s 29,” said Dr. Creech.
“I trust every serious Christian will pray earnestly about the coming conventions and general election. And I hope none will make the mistake of putting matters of character and substantive policy proposals in the back seat, allowing much of the fear and anger of the current political climate to drive their vote,” he added.
Dr. Creech also noted that he felt it was exceedingly disturbing that 40% of Democrats in North Carolina voted for a man, Bernie Sanders, who says he’s a socialist. He said it was also disturbing 54% of Democrats would still vote for someone, Hillary Clinton, whose entire political career is riddled with scandals and is currently under investigation by the FBI for possible breaches of national security. “I want to believe Democrats are better than this,” he said.
North Carolina was one of five states holding its Primary election on Tuesday. Another Primary election will be held June 7 to decide party nominations for thirteen seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
