Former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, who has been seeking tea party support in his bid for the U.S. Senate, picked up a new endorsement Wednesday from the Tea Party Express.
The national tea party group said they are backing Cruz -- one of more than a dozen Texans hoping to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison in Washington, D.C. -- because one of their top goals is to put a "conservative majority" into the U.S. Senate."We were careful in our endorsement selection," said Amy Kremer, chair of the Tea Party Express. "When all is considered, Ted Cruz's knowledge of the Constitution and focus on limiting the size, cost and intrusiveness of the federal government make him not only the strongest candidate in the race, but one of the strongest Tea Party candidates in the nation."The group is holding a series of press conferences this week that included one Wednesday near the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, to announce their support of Cruz."The Texas Senate race is ground zero in the national battle between Tea Party conservatives and the Establishment," Cruz said. "This endorsement is another indication that conservatives are uniting around our campaign to elect a strong, conservative fighter and oppose a timid, career politician."Other candidates in the race are picking up endorsements as well.Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has gained support from former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and former President Ronald Reagan's son, Michael Reagan; former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert has gained endorsements such as those from six former Dallas Cowboys, including quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.Other Republicans running for the seat: Glenn Addison of Magnolia, "Doc Joe" Agris of Bellaire, Curt Cleaver of Fort Worth, Ben Gambini of Winnie, Charles Holcomb of Wimberley, former ESPN analyst Craig James of Celina and Lela Pittenger of Driftwood.Democrats running for the seat: Addie Dainell Allen of Beaumont, Daniel Boone of Canyon Lake, Jason A. Gibson of Sugar Land, former state Rep. Paul Sadler of Henderson and Sean Hubbard of Dallas.Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610Twitter: @annatinsleyHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
