Posted on 01/24/2015 3:51:41 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The Texas conservative and his team are trying to lock down a state director for his White House run.
DES MOINES -- Ted Cruz's presidential campaign in Iowa is unofficially underway.
The Texas senator and his lieutenants have been making calls to top Iowa activists and consultants for the past two weeks, multiple Republican sources told National Journal, hoping to lock down a state director for his White House campaign.
Cruz has not yet made that critical hire, the sources said.
But he's making other moves in this first nominating state.
At the end of a fiery speech here Saturday to the Iowa Freedom Summit, Cruz instructed his cheering audience to send a text message with the word "Constitution" to the number 33733. Iowans all over the auditorium could be seen whipping out their cell phones and punching keys. Within moments, anyone who sent the text got this reply: "Together let's bring bold, clear leadership to America." The message included a link: " tedcruz.org."
It was an innovative way to collect contact information from masses of committed Iowa conservatives. It also erased any remaining doubts about Cruz's intention to run for president -- even if he downplayed the move, with a smile, when asked about it after his speech.
"What we're doing is, we're working to build a grassroots army in Iowa and all across the country," Cruz said. "Because the only way we're going to turn this country around -- it's not going to come from Washington. It's got to come from the American people. "
Judging from his performance Saturday, Cruz won't have trouble recruiting Iowans for his "army."
The Texas senator received a rock-star reception from the conservative crowd, which began cheering upon the first mention of his name. He delivered a speech full of conservative objectives – "repeal Obamacare" and "abolish the IRS," for instance – that was interrupted repeatedly by applause.
He suggested taking the 110,000 current employees of the IRS and sending them instead to guard the southern border. "Somewhat jokingly," he said of the plan. (The side benefit, he laughed, would the agents would scare away would-be illegal immigrants.)
Most notably, Cruz positioned himself to the right of all his potential rivals in the 2016 field. He warned the audience that all of the Republican contenders would fashion themselves as true conservatives when they are not.
"Talk is cheap," he said of his fellow Republicans. He then drew from the Bible – as he did elsewhere in the speech – saying, "The Word tells us, 'You will know them by their fruit.'" Many in the audience knowingly murmured the words along with him.
"Show me where you stood up and fought," Cruz challenged potential rivals on issue after issue, from Obamacare to gay marriage to the Common Core education standards.
The theme of Cruz's speech was "The Miracle of America" -- a message the senator was road-testing as a potential 2016 campaign slogan.
The message, as delivered here, touched on everything from promoting upward mobility to defending religious liberties to advocating a muscular U.S. foreign policy. Cruz told the crowd that "each of us have seen miracles every day," and shared with the evangelical audience how his father left him and his mother many years ago, only to become a Christian and come back to the family.
Cruz promised the crowd that even though times are tough in America, a "miracle" could be on the horizon. He said the country's current challenges are surmountable when considering the historic triumphs over Britain in the Revolutionary War and the Nazis in World War II.
"We have done it before," Cruz exclaimed. "We can do it again!"
I’m in!
They guy has a point.
The Cruz Missile is heading for the dems.
He’s going to be attacked on all sides. Although, Hillary might support him.
If Walker leaves Wisconsin, the RATS will have it trashed within a week’s time.
CRUZ or LOSE!I admire Cruz and believe he’s sincere. He’s just not the right candidate for POTUS. We need a Gov/Gov ticket. Cruz is ideal in the Senate.
Let the primaries decide, but we need to coalesce around a winning team before Jeb and Romney unite.
Bump to see the reply.
CRUZ or LOSE!I knew he could not answer without belittling your choice.
I wonder if those posts are representative of the Cruz attitude towards other candiates?
If Palin and Cruz both ran that would be a mess of epic proportions. We have to choose a candidate and stick with them to get them over the line. Otherwise we take each others base away.
I would like a Cruz-Walker ticket or a Cruz-Jindal ticket.
Thanks for listing the most important qualifications.
Cruz - 2016.
Love that!
I either peed myself or threw up in my mouth a little. I can’t tell which, yet.
Could I PLEASE have a F$cking BREAK from politics for, maybe like 10 minutes?
LOL! :)
Is there any explanation which will satisfy you?
Is so, please provide an example of one.
We’re in here!! GO TED!!!
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