Posted on 04/19/2014 5:38:21 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
Hotel magnate Donald Trump donated $5,000 to Sen. Ted Cruzs leadership PAC in January, according to new campaign records.
Trumps show of support for the Texas Republican's leadership PAC the maximum allowed under the law per election cycle is an indication that the men are becoming political allies.
The relationship between Trump and Cruz initially appeared to get off to a rocky start. In August, Trump said he wasnt sure whether Cruz could be president because he was born in Canada.
But in the months that followed, Trump has spoken favorably about the Tea Party darling, who has been faring well in polls of possible 2016 contenders while making trips to Iowa, New Hampshire and Florida.
At a Republican event at Trumps Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, Trump called Cruz a very special guy.
One of the reasons I like Ted Cruz so much, is that hes not controversial, he said at the Palm Beach County Republican Partys Lincoln Day Dinner in February, drawing laughs from the crowd.
He shouldnt be controversial because what he is doing is right. He took a stand recently, that if he had just a little backing and Ted and I have spoken about this from other Republicans
he would have negotiated one hell of a deal. It might not have ended ObamaCare, but you would have really gotten a big chunk out of it, Trump added, speaking about last years government shutdown fight. I mean, [Republicans] they hit him harder than they hit the Democrats.
In the speech, Trump said that in addition to Cruzs 21-hour speech on the Senate floor rallying against the Affordable Care Act, he had seen the Texas senator speak on numerous occasions.
A media report from November cited an unnamed Cruz spokeswoman calling the two men friends who had spoken many times on the phone since meeting last year, and said Cruz visited Trump Tower during a trip to New York.
Mr. Trump is a friend and the senator had some down time in NYC, a Cruz spokeswoman told Politico.
Members of the Cruz camp did not respond to a request from The Hill for comment about the Trump donation. Michael Cohen, an executive vice president and special counsel to Trump, said it was too early to question whether The Apprentice host was considering backing Cruz or anyone else for president.
Trump has spoken publicly in recent months about other Republican presidential contenders, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
During the 2012 election season, GOP presidential hopefuls made visits to Trump Tower in New York City to court the billionaire, who eventually endorsed Mitt Romney.
The Federal Election Committees (FEC) individual donor database has not yet been updated to include the donation, but it shows that Trump also gave $1,000 to Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) in March.
FEC records show Trump has donated more than $127,000 during this election cycle so far, including to the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) and $50,000 to the Kentuckians for Strong Leadership political action committee.
The Jobs, Growth and Freedom Fund Cruzs leadership PAC took in nearly $143,500 from January to March, according to recently filed reports with the Federal Election Commission, which includes a $66,100 transfer from his own campaign committee.
Traditionally used by more senior members of Congress to gain influence and build alliances, leadership PACs have become more common among new members. The PACs are especially common in the Senate, where members raise larger sums of money than in the House.
During the first three months of the year, Cruzs leadership PAC gave $2,500 each to the campaigns of Republican Sens. Jim Inhofe (Okla.) and Jim Risch (Idaho).
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me likey
“So, Senator Cruz picks up Donald Trump as a supporter, while, since the Senator didn’t show up at Bundyville, lost the support of the Militias.
One more politicians looking to serve the monied elites than the working stiffs that make up the patriots of the country.
Senator Cruz showed whose side he is one when he didn’t come to Bundyville. There are but two sides folks, Ours and Reid’s. Senator Cruz choose to be on Senator Reids’.”
A quote from a member of NH Militia who was there, seems they really expected Senator Cruz to come and stand between them and evil. Senator Cruz’s not showing resulted in a lot of disappointment and sorrow.
+1
“Senator Cruz showed whose side he is one when he didnt come to Bundyville. There are but two sides folks, Ours and Reids. Senator Cruz choose to be on Senator Reids.
That is BS! Cruz didn’t side with Reid just because he didn’t show up there. Noobs that post bull$hit don’t last long here.
Yes. Excellent.
The donation: Doesn’t cost Trump anything. $5k? chump change. It’s really a statement.
Yes. That’s why I rated it excellent. I was aware that Trump has money.
VERY encouraging.
Was glad to hear this. It’s a drop in the bucket to Trump, but it definitely makes a statement ;)
And your sources for accusing me of lying is what? The inside of your head, your gut, or what?
I told you my source now tell the world yours, you, I went and looked at your diabolical homepage, imbecile.
Welcome to freerepublic, I hope all your posts won’t be as silly and fictional as that one.
Oh Bull$hit.
Was Palin there? No? Must be a traitor.
Were either Pauls there? No? Must be Reid's pals.
Was Lee There? No? Must be a Rhino.
Was ANY nationally recognized conservative politician there? No? Damn, we are really screwed.
But the fact remains 'he was not at Bundyville'.
The conversation is not about who did or didn't speak out, but about Cruz "showing what side he is on by not being at Bundyville."
And the fact remains that such a statement is bull$hit.
You wont last long here buttcrust, not posting the BS you do.
If JimRob don’t like my homepage he will let me know.
BTW...JimRob wasn’t there either, is he a Reid supporter?
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