Ted Cruz picks up key Iowa endorsement
Source: Wash post
Sen. Ted Cruz picked up the endorsement of Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa,) an influential social conservative in the nation’s first voting state.
Cruz has made getting the support of social conservatives and evangelical Christians a pillar of his campaign strategy, and King’s endorsement will no doubt give Cruz added credibility among that demographic in Iowa.
“I believe Ted Cruz is the candidate who is the answer to my prayers, a candidate who God will use to restore the soul of America,” King said at a news conference in Iowa on Monday morning.
[After a tepid start to presidential run, Ted Cruz plans to ‘play hard’ in Iowa]
Cruz, speaking after an event in Sun City, S.C., said King’s endorsement is “yet another sign that conservatives continue to unite behind our campaign.”
“There are few, if any, conservatives more trusted in the state of Iowa than Steve King is,” Cruz said. “I also think it has an impact far beyond Iowa. It has an impact here in South Carolina.”
The endorsement is, in many ways, not a surprise. King’s son is supporting a pro-Cruz super PAC and the congressman appeared with the senator at an event in Sioux City, Iowa, last month. Cruz also last attended an annual pheasant hunt last month that King puts on each year.
King is an immigration hardliner whom many social conservatives have been courting in Iowa. Cruz is currently trailing Donald Trump and Ben Carson in Iowa; Carson, in particular, has cut into the support of religious conservatives. Cruz spent the weekend courting the religious vote in South Carolina, holding a religious liberty rally in Greenville, S.C., and speaking at a church service Sunday.
[Ted Cruz unveils immigration plan — on Marco Rubio’s home turf]
King made the argument Monday that Cruz has been making — that he can coalesce the conservative wing of the Republican party while siphoning off the support of libertarians and others.
“That candidate has to be able to win. To win, he must be able to appeal to the full breadth of the Republican Party. That requires support from the establishment wing and very strong support from the largest group, the constitutional Christian conservatives,” King said. “He needs to have a strong appeal to the libertarian wing of the party as well and he must be able to raise the money to drive the campaign to victory.”
King repeated several times that the eventual nominee will have to be able to “inspire the Christian conservatives,” which he said did not happen during the 2012 election, while also courting independent voters. During a question-and-answer session with reporters after his announcement, King added that he believes members of the establishment will support Cruz if he is the eventual nominee despite frequent tussles with the leadership in Washington.
[A lot of people just don’t like Ted Cruz. How come that’s okay with him?]
King said he set the timing of the announcement and picked the day. He said that the announcement was not a surprise for Cruz but that they have not spoken directly in recent days; instead, it appears King communicated through staff. The two may see one another soon, however; Cruz is scheduled to go to Iowa this weekend.
Abby Livingston contributed to this report.
