Posted on 12/10/2015 9:53:02 AM PST by Isara
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| U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz takes questions after The Family Leader's Presidential Family Forum on Nov. 20, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Patrick Svitek) |
"At the end of the day, we truly believe that Ted Cruz is the most consistent and principled conservative who has the ability to not only win Iowa but I believe to win the [Republican] nomination," Vander Plaats told the Des Moines Register in an interview published Thursday, the same day he was scheduled to announce the endorsement at the Iowa Capitol.
As the head of the social conservative group The Family Leader, Vander Plaats holds sway among evangelicals in the Hawkeye State, where Cruz's poll numbers are on the rise. Vander Plaats' backing comes three weeks after Cruz won the support of another influential figure in conservative circles, U.S. Rep. Steve King of Iowa.
Vander Plaats' endorsement had been viewed as Cruz's to lose, though Vander Plaats had strongly denied in recent weeks that any candidate had the inside track. Cruz was among seven GOP hopefuls who participated in a Family Leader forum last month in Des Moines that was billed as a final audition for Vander Plaats' stamp of approval.
Vander Plaats has thrown his support behind the last two Republican candidates who went on to win the Iowa caucuses. He picked former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania ahead of the 2012 caucuses and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in advance of the 2008 nominating contest.
As it did during the last presidential race, The Family Leader decided to hold off on making an endorsement as an organization before the caucuses. Vander Plaats was joined in personally endorsing Cruz by two other officials with the group, vice president Chuck Hurley and board chairman Robert Cramer.
Vander Plaats' backing gives Cruz more evidence that he is consolidating conservative support in his bid for the White House. On Wednesday, Cruz rolled out the endorsements of longtime activist Richard Viguerie, who backed Santorum in 2012, and the National Organization for Marriage, an anti-gay marriage group. Among the most sought-after kingmakers still on the sidelines is Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council whom Cruz has been aggressively courting.
As Vander Plaats announced his endorsement Thursday morning in Iowa, Cruz was in Washington, D.C., where he delivered a national security speech at the the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
How many times is this going to be posted?
I just keep wondering what experience Cruz has in life to qualify him for such a huge job.
I suspect he’s getting the “not Trump” endorsements and that Hillary can’t wait to run against Cruz.
Usually with them it’s 18. One from each blog they click on in Google News.
Because he’s a Top Iowa Evangelical Leader....whatever that means.
Especially after delivering Iowa in 2012.....oh wait.
Hillary would lose to either one, or are you just parroting the MSM talking points about Mr. Cruz?
I think for myself...not sure why you would think I’m a parrot for the hated MSM.
He is a Harvard-educated lawyer, former law school teacher, and one-term US Senator, who is considered by his supporters to be a brilliant orator for the conservative ideology.
Change “conservative” to “liberal” and the above description applies equally well to Barack Obama.
Yawn...our country is going to hell, the constitution is being shredded, ISIS is at the door, we’re $20 trillion in the hole, the government is running every aspect of our life, the GOPe is fighting its own voters, and the Evangelical crowd is running around like their endorsement means something. I’m tired of these knuckleheads popping up every 4 years like passing their morality test is the most important factor in electing a President.
This cannot possibly be correct. Why just this week I saw a media eggspurt announce that Trump had out manuevered Cruz and captured the Evangelical vote for himself. Certainly one of them eggspurts could never be wrong.
I have always been in business. Would I hire Obama, Rubio or Cruz as CEO? No. However, Rubio would be a good pitch man as long as you didn't let him run anything. Cruz would be a great legal advisor and fabulous litigator. Of course Obama was also a pitch man and a puppet...with less experience even than Rubio. Too bad people didn't figure this out before hiring him.
Cruz continues to build on previous successes.
I have to add that there is no evidence that Obama was a good lawyer while Cruz is exceptional, obviously.
But for me he needs more actual experience for such an important job at such a crucial time. I think VP or AG would be good spots for him.
Cruz is the conservative in the race.
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Because you’re stating the exact same line of attack that the MSM uses on Ted Cruz “He can’t win a general election (of course this claim is bogus)”, just sayin..
Sorry friend, now that I read comments again, that’s not what you were saying, forgive me?
Of course...no biggie. It takes a thick skin to get into political discussions these days. LOL
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