Posted on 08/25/2015 2:07:52 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC) - Tuscaloosa is preparing to host Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas Tuesday night.
Cruz will serve as the keynote speaker at the annual Lincoln Reagan dinner, organized by the Tuscaloosa County Republican Party chapter. The event is sold out. Although the dinner boasts a long list of well-known keynote speakers, chapter president Jim Zeanah says this is first time a current presidential candidate has headlined the event.
Zeanah says organizers booked Cruz before they realized just how popular he would be with Alabamians. "The Tea Party folks from all over the state are coming to Tuscaloosa tonight," Zeanah said. "We've had calls from many, many places, and frankly, more people have tried to come than we can accommodate. So we are having a big event, and we're very happy that we draw as well as we do from all over the state."
Zeanah says the so-called "SEC primary" on March 1, when Alabama and several other Southern states will hold primary elections, is benefiting the region. He says the recent visits from presidential candidates to Alabama is proof of this, and he believes this is affecting some of the issues that take the forefront this election cycle. "I think things like personal freedom, I think things like religious freedom, and keeping government out of our daily lives, as much as possible, are all things that the South is concerned about. And I think we will hear a lot more of that sort of thing out of the candidates this time around, and I think they will be making some commitments early in their campaign that will probably be there at the end of their campaign."
Past keynote speakers at the Lincoln Reagan Dinner have been former presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Bush adviser Karl Rove and former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. Zeanah says whether or not it is an election year, the chapter works to book high-profile keynote speakers, to bring political attention to West Alabama.
Tuesday's event featuring Senator Cruz runs from 5 - 9 p.m. in the North End Zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Oh that is good.
‘Bama and several other southern states have not seen this much presidential attention since Reagan’s southern strategy.
Could be because most of the southern states got their GOP primaries moved up to around March 1. Previously, the nominee was already determined before they could vote, because the RNC had them holding primaries late in the election cycle.
The southern strategy will be in play in 2016. Not too good for the Dems. Arkansas, for example, has swung almost completely Republican in the last decade. Its DC delegation is all Republicans, as is its Governor. A decade ago, all but one were Democrats.
Well said!
I think part of what makes Cruz so good as a candidate is he does not need a prepared speech, or teleprompter. He speaks from what he believes not what polls well. So when he gets "ambushed" by lefties trying to "trip him up" he doesn't make mistakes.
Clinton Fatigue - The Ward
Ted Cruz's Super PAC ad, very good.
The problem for Pubs is the electoral map is heavily stacked in the Rats favor. They start off with CA.,Ny.,IL.
If a Trump or another candidate were to win California in the general it’d be game over.
(1) ...(2) Donald Trump......(3) Any one else I stay home and watch the USA burn!
Not that it hasn’t been burning for 8 years already.
3rd party is the answer.
I feel that my last vote that gave the Republicans majority to stop 0bama was wasted on a herd of RHINO’s.
I truly think we are SOL!
Not sure whats going on but number (1) was T E D Cruz.
Anyone who likes good Mexican fast food.....in T’town, there is Taco Casa on 14th right off of McFarland Blvd. They rebuilt after the tornado took them out.
Hope he has a good turnout. At this point....I’m rooting for Cruz and Trump.
But, but, but Ted Cruz is polling low and is not gaining traction ! Mega barf sarcasm .
The naysayers pronastacators tell us so !
Roll Ted!
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