Ted Cruz moves into South Carolina with key staff hire

Washington Examiner ^ | MARCH 17, 2015 | DAVID M. DRUCKER

[SoConPubbie]

Sen. Ted Cruz is expanding his footprint into South Carolina, hiring a veteran conservative operative there to advise his likely 2016 presidential campaign.

The Texas Republican's political team confirmed Monday that it has tapped LaDonna Ryggs to help lead Cruz' efforts in South Carolina. The state hosts the third nominating contest of the 2016 primary — and first in the GOP-dominated South. Ryggs, a former GOP county chairman, isn't necessarily a household name. But she has close ties to the Republican base that Cruz hopes will fuel his rise. Ryggs also has relationships with the party Establishment and bring's to the senator's operation years of experience navigating the ins and outs of South Carolina primary campaigns.

"I like LaDonna," a South Carolina GOP insider said. "She's respected by activists."

Ryggs is working for Cruz' Jobs, Growth & Freedom Fund political action committee as a senior advisor. The senator is not yet a candidate for president, but he is expected to announce for the White House sometime this spring. Ryggs was most recently the managing editor of Palladian View, a digital magazine for conservative Republican women. She earned graduate and undergraduate degrees from Bob Jones University.

The field of likely candidates has been flooding the three early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. This week, attention turns to the Palmetto State. Cruz has visited; former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida hits the ground there Tuesday; and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin will arrive Thursday.

Sen. Lindsey Graham's decision to gauge a 2016 bid has somewhat slowed the typical acceleration of donors signing on with potential candidates and the hiring of political operatives. Some South Carolina GOP players are holding back out of courtesy to their state's senior senator, although he is still not considered a favorite for this key state's nominating delegates.

"It's having some affect — probably more with the donor types," a Palmetto State Republican operative said. "They might be less willing to get on board with other candidates out of respect to him."

Cruz is slowly ramping up for a run at the presidency.

The senator recently tapped Bryan English to advise him in Iowa. English is a highly regarded social conservative operative in the Hawkeye State, home of the first nominating contest of the 2016 primary. Cruz spent the past weekend in New Hampshire (along with Bush and Walker). In Ryggs, he has landed another Republican operative with strong conservative credentials who fits the mold of his Tea Party-style approach to campaigning. She also has ties to the party Establishment, having previously served as chairman of the Spartanburg County GOP.

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

Ted Cruz Ping!

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Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

CRUZ or LOSE!

CRUZ or LOSE!

[trisham]

This is very good news.

[capydick]

Some South Carolina GOP players are holding back out of courtesy to their state's senior senator, although he is still not considered a favorite for this key state's nominating delegates......They might be less willing to get on board with other candidates out of respect to him.

That's a problem right there.........

[Resettozero]

Sen. Lindsey Graham's decision to gauge a 2016 bid has somewhat slowed the typical acceleration of donors signing on with potential candidates and the hiring of political operatives. Some South Carolina GOP players are holding back out of courtesy to their state's senior senator, although he is still not considered a favorite for this key state's nominating delegates.

See what we increasingly have to contend with here?

The idiot great-great-grandkids of the carpetbaggers.

"...out of courtesy to their states senior senator..."

Cannot spell, cannot write, cannot think. Idiots with no excuses.

[LongWayHome]

Happy to see Ted is on the move in SC & NH.

[Noamie]

I hope that none of those hires disagrees ideologically or politically with everything that Cruz believes or people will loose their minds.

/sarc

[SoConPubbie]

Too bad either Walker was not clued in enough, or just didn’t care, or even worse, it doesn’t bother him, either way, I’m pretty sure Senator Cruz won’t make that same type of mistake just on matter of principle alone.

[upchuck]

linda is a stalking horse for somebody. Who remains to be seen, probably Jebbie.

I've studied all the R candidates. Ted Cruz is THE MAN!

South Carolina Ping
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[Resettozero]

Ted Cruz is THE MAN!

Haven't seen any one yet (who is running) who can match Cruz, in spite of the premature Walker hyping going on.

[COBOL2Java]

"Not in MY state he ain't!"

[Daffynition]

Hope TRav keeps his distance from the Cruz machine.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Why do you Cruz folks have to slam Walker on your threads?

Obviously, there's a sense of insecurity that your candidate isn't strong enough to stand on his merits.

[BobL]

“She earned graduate and undergraduate degrees from Bob Jones University.”

Sounds like a good choice to me...

[sergeantdave]

“Sen. Ted Cruz is expanding his footprint into South Carolina, hiring a veteran conservative operative there to advise his likely 2016 presidential campaign.”

Cool. I’ll be in SC. Welcome, Mr. Cruz.

[SoConPubbie]

Obviously, there's a sense of insecurity that your candidate isn't strong enough to stand on his merits.

Obviously!