GOP hopefuls take to the podium at N.Y. gala
NEW YORK — It was Donald Trump's turn to talk New York values on Thursday night.
Addressing an overflow crowd of New York Republican elite at the annual state GOP black-tie fundraiser, the Manhattan billionaire defended his hometown, defending the honor of the city in a not-so-subtle retort to Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who is trailing Trump in the presidential primaries.
"Number one, honesty, work ethic, family," Trump said of New York values. "New York, believe it, is about family. So important. It's the energy to get things done."
“We’re builders,” he said. “We make things happen,”
The fundraiser marked the first time Trump, Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who is running third in the presidential primary race, shared the stage since the 12th presidential debate in Florida in March.
Kasich, who received the endorsement of former New York Gov. George Pataki at the dinner, said he was confident that he would not only remain in the race, but receive the party's nomination at a contested convention in Cleveland in July.
"I'm going to leave Cleveland as the nominee," he said. "Whether you believe it or not, it’s going to happen.”
Meanwhile, Cruz, asked the party to unite behind him: “We are seeing the party come together, and the choice we face is simple. We either unify or we die. If we remain divided, we will lose.”
The evening unfolded with Trump positioning himself in a folksy light, talking about all his real estate deals in New York City before he turned to New York values. He did not mention Cruz by name but his comments seemed aimed at the Texas senator for taking that shot at the city in the past.
Kasich stuck to his positions, his main pitch being he has the best chance of beating Hillary Clinton in the general election.
Cruz maintained his general hawkish stance, saying he would tear up the Iran nuclear deal and the Affordable Care Act, and would go after the terrorists and kill them.
His version of the Kasich "I have the best shot" speech was that you have to win the primary first, and that he has a better shot at that.
Also on hand was Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, the party's most recent New York gubernatorial candidate. Astorino said Trump "has got a big lead in the polls and I expect him to win New York big for a number of reasons. But Kasich and (Texas Sen. Ted) Cruz are stumping."
Meanwhile, a raucous crowd representing a wide range of organizations and causes started gathering in midtown Manhattan early Thursday evening to protest the annual New York Republican State Committee black-tie fundraiser the Republican Party gala at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Anti-Trump and anti-establishment messages in both Spanish and English boomed from loudspeakers as protesters railed against far more than just Donald Trump.
"I'm here because white America created Donald Trump and I'm here to oppose the political system," said Alison Cohen of Manhattan.
Rami Sayder, who said he works in the finance industry, said, however, that he was protesting because he found Donald Trump particularly reprehensible.
In addition, a small group disrupted the press line waiting to go through security in the hotel and was escorted out.
The state committee and Chairman Ed Cox have yet to endorse a candidate in the primary race.
Trump goes into Tuesday's primary vote in New York with 742 pledged delegates, leading Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who has 529, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, with 143. Another 171 Republican delegates remain pledged to Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who suspended his campaign March 15.
For Trump, the primary is a race to reach 1,237 pledged delegates, the threshold to clinch the party's nomination. Cruz and Kasich are in a mad dash to collect enough delegates before then to force a contested convention where they could be given the nod by GOP delegates.
Cruz has gained momentum in recent weeks and has taken the last five contests from Trump, including taking all 17 delegates in the Colorado caucus last weekend. Kasich, who has only won his home state of Ohio, has nonetheless remained in the race and has been the most active GOP hopeful in New York.
The Empire State, however, is not expected to be a significant battleground for the Republicans. An NBC News/Marist College poll released this week gave the Manhattan billionaire a 33-point lead over Kasich, who had support from 21% of likely Republican voters and Cruz, who had 18%.
Cruz has not campaigned heavily in New York. He made brief appearances in the Bronx and Brooklyn last week before hosting two rallies in California. This week he hosted events in Indiana and Pennsylvania. Kasich has hosted a series of town hall meetings, focusing on upstate New York, Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley.
Follow Jorge Fitz-Gibbon and Gabriel Rom on Twitter: @jfitzgibbon and @GabrielRom1
