Posted on 08/24/2013 8:45:05 PM PDT by campaignPete R-CT
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says the there’s a new paradigm in politics, one defined by the rise of young leaders and grassroots change.
The Texas Republican brought the crowd to its feet a handful of times Friday night as he hit conservative talking points about tax reform, economic recovery and his goal to defund the Affordable Care Act.
About 100 people came to meet and listen to Cruz as he headlined a fundraiser for the N.H. State Republican Party held at the home of former ambassador Joseph Petrone and his wife, Augusta. Cruz’s stop in New Hampshire comes after two visits to Iowa earlier this summer, spurring speculation that Cruz is considering a run for the 2016 GOP presidential primary.
This is Cruz’s first time serving in office, and some say he’s a controversial figure for the Republican party, attracting the far right supporters but upsetting traditionalists, including some of his colleagues in the Senate, with his fiery attitude.
In his speech Friday, Cruz said fixing the economy should be the top priority of every elected official.
To help with that, he suggested tax reform, saying that the IRS be abolished.
Cruz continued his campaign to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, which he said was causing small business owners to stop hiring and cut employee hours. He explained again how he’ll refuse to sign off on federal spending that includes even a penny for the health care law.
“We’ve got to do something Republicans haven’t in a long time, stand up and win the argument,” he said.
But in the end, it’s not politicians who are going to make these changes, but the American people, Cruz said. Grassroots support got him elected in 2012 despite unlikely odds, and that same support can change the nation’s future.
Many in attendance Friday, such as David Dewitt of Dublin, liked Cruz for the youth and new air he’s bringing to the party.
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Cruz looked relaxed as he waited to speak Friday, tapping his cowboy boots as a musical group from Rindge sang patriotic songs.
He drew laughs from the crowd throughout his speech, impersonating Jay Leno and motioning to the vista of New Hampshire mountains behind him.
“And you can even see Canada from here,” he said, alluding to Sarah Palin’s famous gaffe when she was a Republican up-and-comer during the 2012 election.
Cruz has not said much about the possibility of a 2016 election run, but others at the event Friday had their focus honed on upcoming elections.
Jennifer Horn, chairwoman of the N.H. Republican party, said the party is starting to gather resources for 2014, so Republicans can take back the N.H. House of Representatives and increasing the party’s majority in the state senate.
“And I swear to you, come hell or high water, we’re winning back the corner office,” she said.
And U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte said winning the majority in the U.S. Senate in 2014 and electing a Republican president in 2016 will make a difference for the nation.
Whether or not Cruz will be one of the Republicans whose name is in that crowd remains to be seen, but plenty of people at the Dublin event said they hope it is.
This is good news if the Petrones turn into supporters for '16. Jennifer Horn is a pro-life teapartier. I didn't know she was the new chairman.
Palin/Cruz 2016
Looks like Ted is going for the gold.
Good for him.
ted cruz to NH ping
This is how Santorumn got as far as he did.
Little towns, pressing the flesh, kissing babies.
Good Lord! How much more journalistic idiocy am I going to read tonight?!
Sarah Palin NEVER said any such thing! The "I can see Russia" crack was from an SNL piece with Tina Fey.
He is diffusing the meme.
Tina Fey was an authorized spokesman for Sarah. Did you not know?
She uses the phrase "famous gaffe." So she is an uninformed idiot. Aka: American journalist.
Well what would one expect?
Santorum did all 99 counties in Iowa. He didn’t do it New Hampshire, as he couldn’t get much traction there.
The recent grassroots campaigns in NH were
Buchanan ‘92
Buchanan ‘96
Lamar ‘96
McCain ‘00
McCain ‘08
Huntsman ‘12
Paul ‘12
Huntsman went to every little town all over western NH. He and Paul clobbered Romney in the rural areas. But they both struck out in the suburbs of eastern New Hampshire. This event on Friday was a $100 per person event, so it wasn’t really voter outreach, but party folks and activists.
I expect honest, accurate, unbiased reporting from American journalists.
And unicorns...
Kaitlin Mulhere can be reached at 603-352-1234, extension 1439, or kmulhere@keenesentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMulhereKS.
I like Cruz— He will be a great Attorney General but you CAN NOT be born out side of the US as a citizen of that country. His presidential aspirations are over.
she is 24
Hey, I’m Kaitlin. I’m a sophomore journalism and political science major and
English minor at the University of Florida. I was born on September 24, 1988
I’d put money down that he’ll be the nominee. He’s damn good.
NH essentially killed off Santorum; after the loss in SC and FL, he could not recover in time, and the failure to contest VA was foolish.
My point was that Santorumn really got respect by stumping in every small town in Iowa.
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