Cruz throws his hat in ring
LYNCHBURG, Va. — Sen. Ted Cruz showed he was a candidate in a hurry early this morning, announcing his presidential candidacy on Twitter just after midnight, several hours before the official launch at the college founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.
The Texas Republican’s choice of Liberty University for today’s speech indicates he plans an aggressive courtship of cultural conservatives and young voters.
Cruz became the first high-profile Republican to officially enter the 2016 contest even though, like others, he has been campaigning in all but name for many months. Ahead of his speech, Cruz turned to social media and tweeted: “I’m running for president and I hope to earn your support!”
In a flashy video that accompanied it, Cruz offered a preview of his nascent campaign’s message.
“I believe in America and her people, and I believe we can stand up and restore our promise,” Cruz said in the web video as images of farm fields, city skylines and American landmarks and symbols played in the background. “It’s going to take a new generation of courageous conservatives to help make America great again, and I’m ready to stand with you to lead the fight.”
Cruz’s decision to launch at Liberty University, a familiar stop for presidential hopefuls that calls itself the world’s largest Christian college, is meant as a marker against potential rivals who are counting on Christian conservatives to fuel their ambitions.
Cruz is not expected to be the sole contender for long. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and two Senate colleagues, Kentucky’s Rand Paul and Florida’s Marco Rubio, are eyeing announcements soon.
For his start, Cruz was bypassing Texas, which he represents in the Senate, as well as early nominating states such as New Hampshire, where Mitt Romney kicked off his own campaign in 2012, and Iowa.
By getting in early — and at Liberty — Cruz, 44, was hoping to claim ownership of the influential and incredibly vocal corner of the Republican Party for whom cultural issues are supreme. It was a move aimed at crowding out figures such as former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist pastor, and former Sen. Rick Santorum, who has made his Catholic faith a cornerstone of his political identity. It also had a potential impact on Cruz’s contemporaries, including 43-year-old Rubio and 47-year-old Walker.
Cruz’s father, a pastor, is also expected to help the first-term senator make inroads with these voters.
Cruz is already a familiar figure on the circuit for presidential hopefuls, having made repeated visits to the early voting states. This month, for example, he met party activists in New Hampshire, which hosts the leadoff primary. But, like other presidential prospects, he’s been coy about what he’s doing. That coyness ended early today when he jumped in.
