U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, gave former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., notice on Friday: he intends to fight for the Sunshine State.
After a fiery speech rallying Florida Republicans at the Republican Party of Florida’s (RPOF) Sunshine Summit in Orlando on Friday, Cruz named his team guiding his presidential campaign in Florida.
Rising in the polls, Cruz named state Rep. Neil Combee, R-Auburndale, to chair his leadership team in the Sunshine State.
“Our campaign is building a grassroots army across the critical state of Florida,” Cruz said on Friday. “I’m encouraged by the strong support our campaign is seeing from leaders who are ready to stand up for conservative principles and turn our country around.”
"Ted Cruz is the principled conservative in this race," Combee insisted. "I am honored to chair his Florida campaign and I'm humbled to lead this impressive group of leaders from across Florida."
Cindy Thompson was named state grassroots director for Cruz’s campaign. More than 80 conservative and GOP leaders across Florida announced their support for Cruz, including Rev. Gerald Bustin, Pastor John Miller and Laura Zorc, one of the leading Common Core opponents in Florida.
“Florida’s primary comes at a critical time,” Cruz said during his speech at the Sunshine Summit, insisting Florida could prove “decisive” in 2016 in the primaries and the general elections.
After speaking at the Sunshine Summit, Cruz was scheduled to hold a rally in Orlando where he planned to focus on immigration.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
