Cruz, Perry set tone in Iowa

Potential hopefuls for GOP nomination share visions for party

Ted Cruz and Rick Perry urged Republican activists to nominate a bold candidate — possibly one like themselves — for president in 2016 as the Iowa caucus season unofficially kicked off with a starstudded cattle call Saturday in Des Moines.

Texas’ two leaders, both expected to announce presidential bids later this year, have come early and often to the fields and cities of Iowa, which will host the first presidential contest in February.

Saturday’s Iowa Freedom Summit, hosted by conservative firebrand Rep. Steve King, gave Perry and Cruz a chance to shine on a high-profile stage that ordinary Iowans and national handicappers would use to sift through a crowded Republican pack.

“If you don’t come in the top three in Iowa, I think it’s going to very difficult for you to win the nomination,” Gov. Terry Branstad told reporters as more than two dozen speeches got underway at the nationally televised event. Among the others at the event were New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

“I’ve won the race for governor three times in the last four years. Three times, mind you, in a state that hasn’t gone Republican for president since I was in high school more than 30 years ago. How about that. You see, I think that sends a powerful message to Republicans in Washington and around the country that if you’re not afraid to go big and go bold you can actually get results.”