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Why Ted Cruz wanted the endorsement of the governor of Guam
The Washington Post ^ | January 28, 2015 | Katie Zezima

Posted on 01/29/2016 8:06:38 AM PST by justlittleoleme

Since the beginning of his presidential campaign, Sen. Ted Cruz and his aides have touted the fact that they are running a national campaign, attempting to lock down the support of delegates in places far from the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

On Thursday, some of that strategy paid off: Cruz got the endorsement of the governor of Guam, Eddie Calvo. The Texas Republican sent surrogates to the U.S. territories last year to cultivate relationships in the hopes of securing the support of delegates to the Republican National Convention in July. In a letter to Cruz, Calvo said he support's Cruz's stances on immigration, the Second Amendment and against large government.

The endorsement is part of Cruz's strategy to carefully court delegates with the hope of locking down the nomination with numbers. He and his team have poured time and resources into the South, where Cruz believes he will play well with religious and conservative voters. The candidate has spent time in places off the normal primary map, including Wyoming and Minnesota.

-snip-

Cruz dispatched his father, Rafael, and Saul Anuzis, a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party who is supporting Cruz and is spearheading his hunt for support in unusual places, to the U.S. Virgin Islands in September to ask for the support of Republicans there.

-snip-

"I met with every Republican mayor. I met with clergy in American Samoa. Senator Cruz was the first Republican presidential candidate to ever send someone to Pago Pago, where I spent two weeks in the midst of a dengue fever outbreak," he said.

Now, as the Iowa caucuses approach, Cruz's team is hoping that its long-game strategy will pay off.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cruz; guam
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To: justlittleoleme

“What happens with the 2nd amendment, abortion, freedom of speech, should the Supreme Court be pushed more liberal?”

All secondary to securing the border and winning the war against Islam.

Trump is the ONLY candidate who is:

- Willing to fight the invasion of our country
- Able to win in the general election

Everything else are secondary concerns.


21 posted on 01/29/2016 8:36:13 AM PST by ConservativeWarrior (Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. - Japanese proverb)
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To: Tennessee Nana

The territories don’t vote in the general election but they get to pick who’s on the ballot. Guam’s delegates were just enough to put Obama over the top so, yeah, they do have powerful voices.


22 posted on 01/29/2016 8:38:41 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "We still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: Michael.SF.; bigbob; bgill

The unrelenting contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has put the focus on what used to be overlooked details of the presidential nominating process.

One of those details? Nominating contests in U.S. territories.

People in places like Puerto Rico, who can't vote in November's presidential election, can vote for the delegates sent to both the Republican and the Democratic national conventions.

When a contender locks up the presidential nomination in March, as Democrat John Kerry did four years ago, no one much notices primaries in American Samoa or Puerto Rico.

But in a close contest, every delegate vote matters.

Underscoring the significance of next weekend's Puerto Rico primary, Clinton flew to the island last weekend. And former president Bill Clinton is campaigning there this week.

On Sunday, according to Mike Memoli of NBC News and the National Journal, the former first lady told one crowd in Puerto Rico, "This primary next Sunday is one of the most important votes you will cast. You will get to help pick the next president of the United States. Someday I hope that regardless of status you're able to help vote for the president of the United States in the general election."

In theory, delegates' votes from American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands could decide who the presidential nominees are. And this fact has left some of our readers scratching their heads.

Can vote now, but not in November
Why is it that people in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are allowed to elect the delegates who choose the nominees, even if those voters aren't eligible to cast ballots in the presidential election?

Here's the short answer: each political party has decided to give people in the U.S. territories a role in the nominating process.

This decision isn't governed by federal statute or by the Constitution but rather by party rules.

"What is most unique in our American democracy is that the Republican and Democratic parties, the leadership and the members, have decided to give U.S. citizens and those living in the U.S. territories a chance to participate in the process," said Eni Faleomavaega, the delegate who represents American Samoa in the House of Representatives.

Faleomavaega has endorsed Obama for the Democratic nomination.

"We participate and we always have for many, many years," said Madeleine Bordallo, the delegate who represents Guam in the House. "I've been a (Democratic) national committeewoman for Guam since 1964. So we participate in the convention's selection of the president and vice president, but we don't vote for the president in the final election."

-snip-

But Puerto Rico has a lode of 63 delegate votes, nearly twice as many as South Dakota and Montana combined. Those two states vote next Tuesday and are the very last Democratic contests of the long primary season.

 


23 posted on 01/29/2016 8:39:19 AM PST by justlittleoleme (Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.)
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To: Resettozero
That's how my Dad told me it should be pronounced. He was there more than 70 years ago so I can't say if it is still pronounced that way.

My Dad also visited Guam a little later and came home with a couple of souvenirs--a Silver Star and a Purple Heart.

24 posted on 01/29/2016 8:39:41 AM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: Michael.SF.

Yes, sadly all of the residents went out to greet the Ted Cruz airplane and the whole island tipped over before the pilots eyes.


25 posted on 01/29/2016 8:44:20 AM PST by BipolarBob
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To: smoothsailing

It was smart game play for Cruz to do this. RNC rules require at least 8 states or territories as part of the in-the-bank hurdles a candidate has to get nominated.. It’s a low-branch fruit IMO for any candidate.


26 posted on 01/29/2016 8:46:14 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: BipolarBob

Good ole’ Hank Johnson from Georgia. Dumb as a moss covered rock.


27 posted on 01/29/2016 8:46:54 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: ConservativeWarrior

Cruz is willing to fight the invasion of our country, and very able to win in the general election PLUS he can be trusted to nominate conservative supreme court judges.

Supreme Court is not a secondary concern. Those people don’t leave office unless they retire or die. If we had a conservative bench, right now we wouldn’t have Obamacare or legalized baby murder.


28 posted on 01/29/2016 8:46:56 AM PST by justlittleoleme (Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.)
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To: Michael.SF.
Glad to know you Trumpetts haven't lost your sense of humor along with your reason but Guam us indeed upright and functioning housing many military aviation bases, namely the Stealth bomber crew!

I have a dear friend who, with his wife and four children are stationed there. Hear from them often, so yes, Guam's still upright!

29 posted on 01/29/2016 8:49:10 AM PST by zerosix (Native Sunflower)
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To: justlittleoleme

You're ok with Cruz welcoming illegals? You're ok with Cruz lying about his citizenship. A grown 45 year old man, a constitutional lawyer, who claimed he didn't know he was Canadian until a few months ago? As if his parents never told him about where he was born and there's not a single picture of little Teddy in Canada in the family photo album. As if there isn't a Canadian baptism certificate in his baby book. So, he never had to show his BC to get his drivers license or his passport or the dozen other times the average American has to show it. I'm having to take mine down to renew my license this year. His citizenship wasn't asked for him to take the bar? Maybe someone needs to search that out and an investigation started on getting him disbarred if he lied on that. He knows he's no more eligible for POTUS than Obama. Liar, liar, pants on fire.

30 posted on 01/29/2016 8:51:07 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "We still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: TigerClaws

Who got the Canadian vote?


Don’t give the Cruznadian any ideas. Democrats already have a separate “abroad” category delegates selected by people living abroad.


31 posted on 01/29/2016 8:55:45 AM PST by lodi90 (TRUMP Force 1 lifting off)
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To: BipolarBob
I don't think Mount Lamlam will tip over.

The distance from the peak to the bottom of the nearby Mariana Trench is the greatest change in elevation on Earth over such a short distance.

32 posted on 01/29/2016 8:58:13 AM PST by Elderberry
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To: bgill

Cruz is a good Christian man who loves the constitution, is highly intelligent, and loves this country.

I have watched Cruz since his early political beginnings. Outside the noise of Trump’s attacks, I have no problems with this man. Cruz isn’t close to perfect, but that is not a qualifier for me. In my opinion he is the best option for this great nation. He is solid on the border, he is solid on immigration, and he is solid on the constitution.

Trump didn’t have a problem with his citizenship and actually said he had his lawyers check it out and that they said he was perfectly qualified to be president. But then Cruz started beating him in the polls, Trump started launching the birther attacks and so did his loyal followers.

I sincerely hope and pray for this nation that I am wrong and you are right about Trump should he win the presidency.


33 posted on 01/29/2016 8:59:47 AM PST by justlittleoleme (Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.)
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To: justlittleoleme

I am not getting any vibes that other than single issue voters support Cruz. He keeps burning bridges and may not win any election outside of Texas in the future. Guam notwithstanding.

I am still surprised that Trump’s polling numbers are as high as they are. I have never seen any candidate lift up the American spirit since Reagan. That does not translate to trump = Reagan. It means trump cuts across party lines. He is not Clinton or sanders or any of the GOP candidates.

I took for granted the conservative voices advertisements of Cruz were authentic. Original intent of the Constitution was his claim to fame. Claiming something does not make a truth. Cruz demands an exemption for himself to hold the office of president. There goes his credibility claiming original intent of the Constitution.

Thinking oneself is entitled or smarter also does not translate to competency or leadership.

I am not a Beck fan, and I am yet to comprehend what Beck gives to Cruz...it sure is not gravitas!


34 posted on 01/29/2016 9:01:46 AM PST by Just mythoughts (Jesus said Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife.)
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To: zerosix

My oldest son was stationed on the USS Buffalo, out of Guam. My mailman served on Guam. And a dad on my son’s baseball team had worked on Guam.


35 posted on 01/29/2016 9:02:14 AM PST by Elderberry
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To: Gaffer

When is the Pago Pago primary? Wouldn’t he have to win that in order to put Pago Pago “in-the-bank”?


36 posted on 01/29/2016 9:04:19 AM PST by smoothsailing
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To: Elderberry
Aha, so it is still upright!

Actually have another friend who travels there a number of times a year for pastoral conferences.

37 posted on 01/29/2016 9:05:49 AM PST by zerosix (Native Sunflower)
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To: zerosix
Trumpett?

Actually I support Cruz. I will vote for Trump when he is the last man standing.

38 posted on 01/29/2016 9:07:56 AM PST by Michael.SF. (That was the gift the president gave us, the gift of happiness, of being together,' Cindy Sheehan")
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To: justlittleoleme

“Cruz is willing to fight the invasion of our country, and very able to win in the general election”

Not from what I’ve seen.

I like the guy, but he can’t win. And he’s very PC when it comes to immigration and islam. He’d be a good SC appointment.


39 posted on 01/29/2016 9:08:13 AM PST by ConservativeWarrior (Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. - Japanese proverb)
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To: ConservativeWarrior

Polls are polls, what will show who can win is when the votes are actually cast.

So.... If Cruz starts doing well in the primaries and actually starts out performing Trump would you consider voting for Cruz instead?


40 posted on 01/29/2016 9:12:13 AM PST by justlittleoleme (Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.)
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