Iowa conservatives rally around Ted Cruz

Following a reception to support Ed Guth for the Iowa Senate, more than 130 locals attended a rally for Republican presidential Candidate Ted Cruz at the Goldfield school building on Thursday, January 7. Guth and guests Terry Baxter, Bob Vander Plaats, and Steve King all spoke in favor of Cruz before Cruz himself took the stage to outline his plan of action if he were to be elected president and to ask for votes at the upcoming Iowa caucus.

“The whole world is watching what we do in Iowa on February 1,” said Vander Plaats, who is president of the social conservative organization The Family Leader. “If conservatives unite, we’re going to win.”

Vaander Plaats said that the Greatest Generation made an impact by “standing in the gap” for the needs of their country. In the same way, “we’re seeing Ted Cruz putting the cause of the country above himself,” Vander Plaats said. He also commented that this was the first time he, Congressman Steve King, and conservative news personality Steve Deace had all endorsed the same candidate.

“I have not endorsed a presidential candidate for 8 years,” King said. “I can’t make an endorsement unless it’s a conviction.”

King then introduced Cruz, who started by thanking the crowd for supporting the conservative leaders who had spoken.

“We’re here tonight because our country’s in crisis.… Yet I’m here this evening with a word of encouragement, hope, and exhortation,” Cruz said. “People are waking up.”

To read what Cruz told the crowd about his plans to change current policies, see the January 14 edition of the Monitor.