Trump's Biggest GOP Critics Praise Pence's Debate Performance

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) hinged his vice presidential debate performance on being able to avoid tough questions about his running mate Donald Trump ’s most offensive comments. Though many people saw through the scheme , his tactics won praise from an unlikely group: Conservative Trump critics. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trump’s most vocal opponents  in the Senate, said that Pence was “reassuring and solid as a rock” during the debate against Hillary Clinton ’s running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

Though Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) recently endorsed Trump , he spent most of the past year criticizing the GOP nominee’s racist and sexist comments, as well as his penchant for conspiracy theories . Cruz also drew ire from the Trump camp when he declined to endorse him during his speech at this summer’s Republican National Convention. But on Tuesday night, he had only positive things to say about the Republican vice presidential nominee:

Ronald Reagan ’s son Michael said this week  that his father wouldn’t have supported the GOP nominee. But judging by Michael Reagan’s comments during the VP debate, maybe the late president would have been a Pence fan: 

Several #NeverTrump pundits also handed Pence a win:

Cruz’s former spokesman summed up the mood best, suggesting that maybe what Republicans need most is for Trump to win... and then step down.

Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularlyincitespolitical violence and is a