Posted on 04/16/2015 12:40:47 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Ted Cruz hauled in more than $4 million during his first nine days as a formal presidential candidate—with help from a handful of Rick Perry's top donors.
Five members of Perry's leadership PAC advisory board contributed to Cruz's presidential campaign in late March, a National Journal review of Federal Election Commission records found.
San Antonio auto dealer Red McCombs, Austin oil executive Ben "Bud" Brigham, Houston chemical company executive Steven P. Mach, retired Houston technology executive Holloway Frost, and Houston Republican Kathaleen Wall each wrote four-figure checks to Cruz's campaign in late March. Those five donors were also among the 80-plus individuals Perry named to his PAC's advisory board in February.
All but Mach gave $5,400, the maximum contribution allowed, to Cruz. McCombs, Brigham, and Mach all donated to Perry's last presidential campaign.
Aside from that group, Houston Texas owner Robert McNair, one of Perry's top donors during his tenure as governor, also contributed $5,400 to Cruz's campaign on March 31.
Another member of Perry's advisory board, Paul Mitchell co-founder John Paul DeJoria, did not donate directly to Cruz's campaign in March, but he held a fundraiser for the senator in Austin earlier this month, according to the Dallas Morning News. McCombs also hosted a San Antonio fundraiser for Cruz on Wednesday.
While it wouldn't be unusual for some donors to hedge their bets and contribute to more than one White House contender at this stage in the race, the splitting of loyalties between Cruz and Perry shows how the race for cash in donor-rich Texas is even more competitive than usual. Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina all visited Texas in March alone.
Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler declined to comment. Perry spokesmen could not immediately be reached for comment.
Cruz's campaign raised a total of $4.3 million from March 23 through the end of the month and finished with $3.9 million in the bank.
I like Rick Perry. If it weren’t for Ted Cruz, I would support Perry.
But I’m willing to bet even Rick Perry himself is impressed as hell with how great Cruz is.
I really like that.
CRUZ or LOSE!Ouch!
I take it that Rick is running to be in Washington someday, somehow. Maybe he wants to retire there, but he must believe he needs some visibility to get there.
Running a prez campaign is an awfully expensive way to just apply for a job— any job.
2nddivision vet ?
Check out my reworded version of the song Royals.
It’s on the Hillary meets with local Democrat leaders thread..
Love that!
Speaking of High Rollers, I just saw Jack Welch, former CEO of G.E., on Fox. Cavuto asked him about why he likes Ted Cruz and Welch praised Cruz to the skies. He talked about the truth and honesty factor. He said when Cruz told you he would do something, you knew he’d do it. He also talked about what a wonderful person Cruz was. I hope a clip of that interview gets on youtube. It was great.
But I’m willing to bet even Rick Perry himself is impressed as hell with how great Cruz is.
I do not think that Perry was ever going to run if Cruz got in the race. It was probably an agreement.
That's like saying, "If it weren't for Reagan, I would support Dukakis."
There's an ocean of difference between Cruz and Perry.
That doesn’t look anything like Ted.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.