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Why one Cruz delegate candidate likes Trump

A suburban delegate candidate for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has in recent weeks been a vocal critic of the Republican candidate for president - even though he's on the Illinois primary ballot as a Cruz supporter.

Tea Party leader and health insurance broker C. Steven Tucker of Roselle has created a stir during the campaign by writing pointed criticisms when Cruz has said Donald Trump is calling for a single-payer health care plan.

Tucker says Trump isn't calling for such a plan and accuses Cruz of lying about it.

"He's not the guy who I thought he was," Tucker said. "I have a real problem with lying."

A Cruz spokesman who was later fired for spreading a false story about Florida Sen. Marco Rubio responded to Tucker via the Washington Examiner last month, pointing to a "60 Minutes" interview with Trump.

"That is single-payer socialized medicine," then-spokesman Rick Tyler said.

Despite their disagreements, Tucker says if elected as a delegate Tuesday, he will vote for the Cruz on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention, honoring his commitment to vote for the Texas senator.

Tucker said he was recruited to be a Cruz delegate and agreed before the dust up and said he's been a "huge fan" in the past.

He said he'd be inclined to support Trump on a second ballot of a contested convention because Trump gives the party the best chance to win in November.

In Illinois, voters Tuesday will elect three Republican delegates from each congressional district. That's separate from picking a presidential candidate at the top of the ballot.

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