Surging in poll, Ted Cruz brings presidential campaign to Huntsville

The Huntsville Times ^ | August 9, 2015 | Paul Gattis

[2ndDivisionVet]

Greeted by a crowd exceeding expectations in Huntsville, Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz rolled into the Rocket City on Sunday evening as an apparent candidate on the rise.

In an NBC News post-debate poll released Sunday, Cruz rose to No. 2 among the 17 GOP candidates – an indication, the junior senator from Texas said, that his campaign is resonating with voters.

"God bless the great state of Alabama," Cruz said in greeting a crowd estimated by local Republican officials as more than 1,000 in the Jackson Center in Cummings Research Park. "Holy cow! I think we've got the whole state of Alabama in here."

Indeed, all but a handful of chairs were removed from the ballroom where Cruz spoke to accommodate the crowd – the vast majority of which stood for the hour that Cruz spoke and took questions from the audience.

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, introduced Cruz and told the audience that the Cruz campaign was hoping for about 400 to 500 people to attend the rally. Instead, Brooks said the campaign received more than 1,400 RSVPs.

The crowd snacked on campaign-provided ice cream before the speech, then squeezed into the ballroom waving signs and cheering virtually every statement Cruz made.

He reiterated staples of recent campaign speeches – outlining his plan for his first day as president by, among other things, undoing all "illegal executive orders" by President Obama, calling for an investigation into Planned Parenthood and dismantling the IRS.

Cruz touted his fundraising as well, saying that at $14 million, he raised more than any other GOP candidate in the last quarter.

He also took shots at Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, joking about the planned Democratic debate that hasn't happened yet.

"The invitation was emailed to Hillary," Cruz said.

A chorus of laughter followed.

"Listen, if you think Washington is doing great, that we're heading in the right direction and we just need someone to fiddle around the edges, then I ain't your guy," Cruz said. "If you think Washington is fundamentally broken, that there are career politicians in both parties who aren't listening to the American people..."

His voice then became drowned out as cheers and applause came as the response.

The NBC News poll released Sunday gave at least a snapshot of growing support for Cruz in wake of Thursday's GOP debate in Cleveland.

According to the poll, Donald Trump remains the frontrunner with 23 percent of Republican voters giving him their support. Cruz was second with 13 percent – rising from the crowded GOP field with the Republican National Convention 11 months away.

Ben Carson was third with 11 percent, followed by Carly Fiorina and Marco Rubio with 8 percent each.

Cruz also had the largest percentage jump from last week at 7 percent, according to the poll.

"We're certainly encouraged by NBC's new polling numbers," Cruz said when asked by AL.com for his reaction to the poll before his speech. "That surge is, I think, the result of men and women across this country who are looking for a strong, proven, consistent conservative. Online, our fundraising exploded after the debate. We saw people all over the country going to TedCruz.org contributing online.

"It's been amazing in just over four months, we've had over 225,000 contributions (at the website). It's been from all 50 states, all five territories. Our average contribution has been $68. We have contributors in 48.1 of the ZIP codes in America have one or more contributors to our campaign. The strength of this campaign is that it comes from the grassroots. It comes from the people. That's what this campaign is. I could not be more encouraged."

[cripplecreek]

Looks like every hunt in Huntsville showed up from the pics I’ve seen on twitter.

[Fai Mao]

I have been saying fir a while that Donald Trump helps Cruz because he makes him look moderate, statesman like and allows him to exhibit his intelligence. GOP-E that are scared spitless over Trump would rather have Cruz and see that Cruz not Jeb, not Rubio and not RINO-Lite can beat Trump.

[Din Maker]

I love Twitter. With re-Tweets your comments/opinions can reach 100,000 people.

[moovova]

Good.

[TexasFreeper2009]

WOOT GO CRUZ!

[PlateOfShrimp]

This is nothing.

Jeb got dozens (dozens, I tell ya) in NH.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I knlw I have great expectations.....but I wish he would stay to meet my WW2 step-father tomorrow in H’ville.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Almost all of his visits now are moving to much larger venues or outdoors.

[Lake Living]

I so hope and pray he keeps rising! One, if not the only one, candidate with integrity.

[MinuteGal]

Ping !

Leni

[PlateOfShrimp]

It’s exciting, isn’t it? If I didn’t have family commitments, I’d go from DC to Des Moines just for the rally there (love the Newsboys).

I love it when a plan comes together!

[Isara]

I've just watched Ted Cruz's speech at this event. Wow!

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aJfkCjgwODk1MXw1NzgxNzE2MHhVAFvhXdw3wPyrFzntn_vqDWDT-gYNAS9oOO2NokTu

[radu]

I posted this on another thread and was given the link to your thread for posting again.

Got back just a little while ago from the Cruz event in Huntsville. They'd said the venue holds 700 but it holds a LOT more than that, and it was a packed house. I overheard a woman working the event say the same as Rep. Brooks - - there were over 1,400 RSVPs, and I think they all showed up! There was a small crowd who stayed out in the hallway (hubby included) because the room was so full. Not ME! I spent a lot of the time trying to squeeze as close to the front as I could to get at least one decent shot but only managed to get this close.....

That was Rep. Mo Brooks on stage with Sen. Cruz.

Sen. Cruz gave an excellent speech but he really shined during the Q&A session that followed. I was already leaning strongly toward Cruz before but this evening sealed the deal.

I keep seeing a pic posted of the rear of his tour bus but I like this view much better. :-)

The only down-side to the evening was I didn't get a chance to speak to him. The end of these events is usually the best time to try but hubby wanted to leave right away. It would have been a looooong walk home so I didn't have much choice. :-(

[2ndDivisionVet]

Thank you!

[radu]

You’re welcome!

I wish I didn’t need to take a sick cat to the vet tomorrow afternoon. I’d love to go to Murfreesboro for the event there but there’s no way I could make it back home in time for the appointment.
At least we were able to make it to Huntsville this evening and it was a great time.

[Principled]

Awesome FReport radu. Thanks...nothing like a real person telling about an event (not some TV reporter who is lefty biased)...love this site.

[TNMOUTH]

Well, I sure wish Cruz would catch on...he is only polling at 4-6%.

Remember those comments on here?

LOL.