Politics

Rep. King Says He Tried His Best To Fight the "Ted Cruz Republicans"

That's a thing now?

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In the final minutes before the vote early Monday evening, Rep. Pete King stood at the back rail on the floor of the House, watching the scoreboard and still hoping there was a chance to stop the madness.

But every time he spoke to a fellow Republican representative who seemed ready to join him in averting a government shutdown, House Speaker John Boehner would have a quiet word with the waverer.

"I did my bit, and then I saw Boehner talking to them," King says.

King was by one of the 20 locations where a member can vote. He saw a possible supporter who was standing nearby instead go to a more distant voting station.

"When you see a guy walk away to vote someplace else, you know how he's going," King says.