Trump to campaign in Texas with Cruz
President Donald Trump confirmed Friday he will do a “major rally” in October to help U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in his re-election.
In a tweet, Trump left no doubt he is endorsing Cruz for re-election.
“I will be doing a major rally for Senator Ted Cruz in October,” Trump said. “I’m picking the biggest stadium in Texas we can find. As you know, Ted has my complete and total Endorsement. His opponent is a disaster for Texas weak on Second Amendment, Crime, Borders, Military, and
Vets!”
Although he and Trump were determined rivals during the 2016 presidential campaign, Cruz said he’s worked with Trump since the election to advance the president’s priorities in the Senate. For his part, Trump has endorsed Cruz during past stops in Texas.
“My relationship with Donald Trump has had its ups and downs,” Cruz said at a campaign stop in August. “He says some things that I wouldn’t say — and frankly, which I wish he wouldn’t say — but at the same time, I’m very, very happy with the substance of what is being accomplished.”
On Friday, Cruz responded to the president on Twitter with his own statement welcoming Trump to Texas.
“Terrific! Texas will be glad to see you,” Cruz responded as he traveled between campaign stops.
Last month, Cruz said he and Trump had been talking about the potential of a rally and expressed confidence Trump would help with his re-election.
“I would certainly welcome his support, and I hope to see him in Texas,” Cruz said, standing outside the Dixie Grille in Seguin. “I think we are likely to see the president down in Texas before the election.”
Cruz has embraced Trump as he seeks to fire up the GOP base during his re-election campaign against Democrat Beto O’Rourke. Polls have shown the race is a single-digit battle, leading Cruz to warn supporters that if the party does not unify and match the Democratic energy, Republicans could be in trouble up and down the ballot.
“We do have a real race,” Cruz said last month during the Resurgent Gathering in Austin, a conference organized by blogger and radio host Erick Erickson. “We are taking it deadly serious.”
The race has become so competitive that Cruz has increasingly been missing votes in Congress. According to the U.S. Senate, Cruz has missed the last 10 votes on the floor of the Senate over the last two weeks.
Because the House is in recess until after Labor Day, O’Rourke, a congressman from El Paso, has been able to campaign over the last month without missing any votes.