GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, announced today that his campaign raised a robust $10 million in the second quarter and with super PAC support can count on over $51 million for his candidacy.
The Cruz campaign has raised more than $14.2 million since he announced his candidacy in March. The campaign press release said that he has received over 175,000 contributions, with an average of $81. In the second quarter Cruz reports raising “roughly $10 million,” which combined with the $4.3 million he raised in the last week of the first quarter brings him to the $14.2 million total so far.
The super PACs which support Cruz but operate independently of his campaign have not released fundraising totals but in June announced they had raised over $37 million in support of his candidacy.
Campaign reports for the second quarter for most candidates and super PAC finance reports for funds collected through June 30 are due to the Federal Election Commission July 15.
Cruz put out the word about his fundraising ahead of most GOP candidates to prove his support and staying power in a crowded field of 14 candidates, with two more - Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Ohio Gov. John Kasich - set to announce their candidacy later this month.
The Cruz press release stressed “the aggregate total of over $51 million means that, along with Cruz’s strong support from the conservative grassroots across the country, Cruz’s campaign will have the resources, the manpower, and the energy to compete vigorously in all early state contests, as well as nationally in the Super Tuesday states on March 1st.” At least five Southern states, including Cruz’s home state of Texas, are expected to hold primary elections March 1.
“The grassroots energy and support we are seeing is overwhelming,” said Cruz. “In Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina – and all across the country – we are seeing courageous conservatives coming together for real change. We’re reassembling the Reagan coalition – from conservatives to libertarians to people of Faith – and with the help of so many supporters, we will be able to deliver our optimistic message all across the country.”
Cruz continued his defense of Donald Trump’s inflammatory statements on Mexicans and immigration in an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. “I like Donald Trump,” said Cruz. “He’s bold, he’s brash, and I get that it seems the favorite sport of the Washington media to encourage some Republicans to go attack other Republicans. I ain’t going to do it.”
Cruz, who is Cuban American, did not join some GOP candidates, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whose wife is Mexican, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who were sharply critical of Trump referring to Mexicans entering the U.S. illegally as criminals and rapists.
The Texas senator noted that his father was a legal immigrant from Cuba. “I salute Donald Trump for focusing on the need to address illegal immigration,” he said. Cruz added that Trump has a “colorful way of speaking - it’s not the way I speak.”