Trump fires back at Cruz | McClatchy Washington Bureau

GOP front-runner Donald Trump lowered the boom Friday on rival Ted Cruz after the publication of some critical comments the Texas senator had made privately to donors.

In two tweets, Trump responded to Cruz having told a group of New York donors Wednesday, as reported by The New York Times, that he questioned the fitness of both Trump, a billionaire developer, and Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, to be commander in chief.

“Looks like @tedcruz is getting ready to attack. I am leading by so much he must. I hope so, he will fall like all others. Will be easy!” wrote Trump.

Trump also tweeted that Cruz “should not make statements behind closed doors to his bosses, he should bring them out into the open - more fun that way!”

Cruz has been careful not to criticize Trump because he sees Trump supporters as looking to him as an alternative.

Cruz sought to downplay his remarks Thursday, refusing to confirm them, and his campaign issued a release labeling the Times’ report “misleading.” But the audio of Cruz’s remarks was leaked Friday.

Cruz sought to join forces with Trump by tweeting Friday that “The Establishment’s only hope: Trump & me in a cage match.” He went on to say “Sorry to disappoint -- realDonaldTrump is terrific. #DealWithIt.”

This is what Cruz told donors:“You look at Paris, you look at San Bernardino, it’s given a seriousness to this race, that people are looking for: Who is prepared to be a commander in chief? Who understands the threats we face?” Cruz was quoted in The New York Times by two sources as having said, “Who am I comfortable having their finger on the button? Now that’s a question of strength, but it’s also a question of judgment. And I think that is a challenging question for both of them.”