Trump plans to help one-time rival Cruz in Texas campaign
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’ll ride to the rescue of one-time bitter rival Sen. Ted Cruz this fall, the strongest indication yet that the Texas conservative firebrand is getting nervous about his challenger, a liberal darling with a growing national profile.
Trump tweeted Friday that he will headline “a major rally” for Cruz in October and is “picking the biggest stadium in Texas we can find.” He added, “Ted has my complete and total Endorsement (sic),” and called Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke “a disaster for Texas - weak on Second Amendment, Crime, Borders, Military, and Vets!”
The tweet of support was a long way from Trump’s previous assessment of Cruz’ record. He once declared the senator “has accomplished absolutely nothing” for Texans. Cruz has labeled Trump “a sniveling coward.” But the promise of presidential assistance suggested Cruz — and his party — are feeling the heat. Trump has long planned to travel to bolster Republican candidates before November’s midterm elections, but he was not expected to spend valuable time in reliably-red Texas for a race that for months looked like a Cruz cakewalk.
“Either Ted Cruz is in trouble or it’s a remarkable waste of the president’s resources,” said Republican strategist Rick Tyler, who worked for Cruz’s presidential campaign.
The Texas Senate seat, Tyler noted, was supposed to be the GOP’s “safest seat this cycle.”
Trump’s announcement was also likely to further intensify the hype around O’Rourke, who has consistently outraised Cruz and has rocketed to national stardom in recent weeks. Video of O’Rourke, who is giving up his El Paso House seat to run, defending NFL players’ right to protest the national anthem has been viewed by millions and was praised by NBA star LeBron James.
National magazines have speculated that O’Rourke could be a vice presidential pick in 2020, or perhaps run for the White House — even if he doesn’t pull off the upset in Texas, which hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994, the nation’s longest political losing streak.
Yet Cruz’s race appears to be far tighter than the state’s history would suggest.
Those close to Cruz’s campaign report that internal polling shows O’Rourke trailing by just 5 or 6 percentage points, which is in line with recent public polls.
Republicans across Texas and Washington have become most concerned with the Democrat’s prolific fundraising. Cruz has raised more money than any other Republican Senate candidate this cycle so far. And O’Rourke, who reported having raised nearly $24 million through June, could ultimately double Cruz’s fundraising, despite shunning support of outside political groups.
Cruz has repeatedly attacked his opponent, doing everything from referring to him by his full name, Robert, to criticizing O’Rourke for voting against a bill offering tax breaks for Harvey victims.