Bob Dole said Texas Sen. Ted Cruz pays does not pay enough attention ot the Republican Party's priorities. Bob Dole on whether he'd vote for Cruz: I might oversleep that day

If Ted Cruz wins the Republican nomination for president, Bob Dole might forget to set his alarm to vote next Nov. 8, remarking in an interview that the Texas senator pays more heed to his “conservative” label than the priorities of his party.

Asked on MSNBC's “Andrea Mitchell Reports” on Tuesday whether he could imagine himself supporting a Democrat if Donald Trump wins the GOP nomination, the former Kansas senator and 1996 Republican presidential nominee said he would not.


“Well, I mean, I've supported Democrats in the past. And not that I'm — you know, hard rock Republican,” Dole said, according to a transcript of the exchange. “But — if it's Hillary I think he just — she's moved to the left as some of our party's moved to the right. And it would be four, eight more years of Obama, who is a very good man, but I just don't think he was quite ready for the job.”

On whether he would support Cruz, Dole remarked, “Well, I would — I might oversleep that day.”

“Just somehow not get to the polls?” Mitchell asked.

“‘Cause he used to make these speeches. ‘Remember President Dole? Do you remember President McCain?’ The inference was that we were all a bunch of liberals, and only he is a true conservative. And he uses the word ‘conservative’ in — more than he ever uses the word ‘Republican,’ the party. So, it would be — it would be difficult.”