- Rand Paul campaigns at the Wilbur Aalfs library in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday.
- Zuma Press
In Winterset, Iowa, Monday night, attendees at a Ted Cruz town hall sat through a 10-minute video of Ron Paul 2012 supporters talking about how they’re now backing the Texas senator’s presidential campaign.
It’s part of Mr. Cruz’s effort, having consolidated support from the state’s social conservatives, also to win over libertarian-minded supporters from Mr. Paul, who placed second in Iowa’s presidential caucuses in 2008 and third in 2012.
Ron Paul’s son has something to say about that.
“I don’t think that Ron Paul supporters are very excited about making the sand glow in the Middle East,” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said, referring to Mr. Cruz’s oft-repeated declaration of what he would do to combat Islamic State militants.
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In a Wall Street Journal interview Friday while he was riding from Des Moines to Oskaloosa, the younger Mr. Paul, who is running for president this year, said Mr. Cruz will lose support from people who backed his father for his claims that he expanded the government’s surveillance capabilities in the Freedom Act that passed last year.
“His remark in the last debate that he is proud of the fact that he voted to increase collection of all cell phone data… that goes against what we’re trying to do,” Mr. Paul said. “Those of us in the liberty movement are trying to lessen the collection of private information.”
Mr. Paul and his aides expressed unbounded optimism about his campaign’s organizing efforts in Iowa. Mr. Paul’s campaign on Friday announced it had secured captains in 1,007 of Iowa’s 1,682 precincts, an impressive figure for any campaign.
“I can guarantee you nobody has that many in Iowa,” said A.J. Spiker, a former Iowa GOP chairman who is a senior adviser to the Paul campaign.
Mr. Paul discounted his low polling figures, which may relegate him to the second-tier stage at next Thursday’s Republican presidential debate in South Carolina. Mr. Paul reiterated his pledge to skip to event if he is not among its top contenders.
“There will be a lot to be said if they try to prevent us from being on the stage,” Mr. Paul said. “We are a first-tier campaign and we’ll only debate in the first tier.”
MORE:
Bill Clinton Brushes Off Donald Trump
Christie: Iran Bigger Threat Than ISIS
Trump Fails to Keep Out Hecklers in Vermont
Paul Ryan Brings a Dose of Kemp Optimism into the 2016 Campaign
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@Max B
Cruz's dual citizenship would have no impact on his eligibility for any position other than President. Eligibility for the Senate is different.
Doesn't matter, Lawsuit is being filed if Cruz outgames Trump for the nomination.
The Court will have all the discovery, and it is interesting no one has even seen or produced a birth certificate for Eleanor Cruz. There is obviously something amiss. Why did Ted conceal his dual citizenship. Let's see some passport research. The dad needs put under a microscope.
A Florida congressman is preparing to sue.
@Rusty Shackelford
I don't recall what his polling numbers were, but I do believe Ron Paul's numbers in Iowa were rather low as well before he nearly won the state, narrowly trailing Santorum who was polling low as well.
I remind people all the time that polls are not votes, and in a caucus state it can get even more complicated.
@David Farrar
Unfortunately, is I am sure you know, there is no legal definition of what a "natural born" citizen is as opposed to any other kind of citizen.
It would be helpful if the Congress would pass a simple bill, outside of a presidential election cycle, to settle that once and for all.
We can not hold Cruz, or anyone else, to a perceived definition of a term that has no legal foundation.
Ted Cruz is a slippery kind of sneak, somehow he got elected with dual citizenship. His dad, immigrant from Cuba to Canada, had the nerve to say birther statements to the president, while It looks like this family buffaloed people on a birther issue. The father is crazy extremist fundamentalist and said Jesus selected his boy for the
U.S---not only does this sound insane, I am concerned about a coup d'etat from foreigners.