PoliticsTed CruzPoliticsRepublican Party

Ted Cruz Iowa GOP Reagan Dinner Tickets Are Now 25 Percent Off

Doubts Emerge Surrounding Ted Cruz Event
By 

Politics Editor, The Huffington Post

Open Image Modal
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 10: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks during the 'Exempt America from Obamacare' rally, on Capitol Hill, September 10, 2013 in Washington, DC. Some conservative lawmakers are making a push to try to defund the health care law as part of the debates over the budget and funding the federal government. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Less than one year into his U.S. Senate tenure, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has done his share of appearances on a national platform.

Among the items on the docket is an Oct. 25 speech at the Iowa Republican Party's Reagan Dinner. With less than six weeks between now and the event, the Iowa Republican caught an ad showcasing 25 percent savings for folks interested in seeing Cruz.

Standing as a conservative news source for the Hawkeye State, the Iowa Republican's piece questioned whether the discount was a case of "lessened" demand for Cruz. More than three years away from the 2016 presidential election, the Tea Party favorite has made multiple trips to the state this summer, including an encounter with protesters at GOP headquarters in Des Moines.

The RUN reports that the Iowa Republican Party said otherwise regarding Cruz fatigue, contending that the ticket discount is part of a marketing strategy to explore different demographics and save donors money.

”You would think a ‘Republican’ blog would cheer when the state GOP is putting systems in place that saves its donors money by allowing more funds to go towards programs and electing Republicans, as opposed to overhead and expenses," Iowa GOP Executive Director Steve Bierfeldt told The RUN.

The Cruz ticket discount comes days after billionaire GOP donor Sheldon Adelson admitted Cruz was not the first name to come to mind as a 2016 Republican presidential contender. In an interview with National Journal published Thursday, Adelson listed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) as possibilities, but not Cruz.

"I didn't even know Ted Cruz was potentially a candidate until somebody pointed it out to me the other day," Adelson said.

During the Iowa trips, Cruz has dismissed 2016 speculation, telling ABC News in July that his presence does not necessarily mean he is planning to run.

"We are having a national debate about which direction the country should go, and what I am doing now is trying to participate in that national debate,” Cruz told ABC's "This Week."

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

Sen. Ted Cruz
(01 of17)
Open Image Modal
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) left, greets Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) after introducing her at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 16, 2013. Diehard activists at the three-day conference are already picking favorites in what could be a crowded Republican presidential primary in 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (credit:AP)
(02 of17)
Open Image Modal
FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2013 file photo Armed Services committee member, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), questions former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), President Barack Obama's choice for defense secretary, during Hagel's confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Weeks into his job, Texas Republicans are cheering Cruz's indelicate debut and embracing him as one of their own. The insurgent Republican elected with the tea party's blessing and bankroll, has run afoul of GOP mainstays, and prompted Democrats to compare his style to McCarthyism. Also seen from left are Sen.s Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Mike Lee, R-Utah. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (credit:AP)
(03 of17)
Open Image Modal
Ted Cruz, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) (credit:AP)
(04 of17)
Open Image Modal
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks to the media, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in Houston a day after defeating Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in a runoff. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (credit:AP)
(05 of17)
Open Image Modal
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 13: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) holds a news conference to announce their plan to defund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, at the U.S. Capitol March 13, 2013 in Washington, DC. Although Cruz and his fellow sponsors expect the legislation to fail, they believe it is an important survey of who supports health care reform. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(06 of17)
Open Image Modal
Sen. Ted Cruz of (R-Texas) addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
(07 of17)
Open Image Modal
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) answers questions from the media at a voting precinct Tuesday, July 31, 2012, in Houston. Cruz faces Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the Republican primary runoff election for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (credit:AP)
(08 of17)
Open Image Modal
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) answers a question during an event held by the Austin Chamber of Commerce in Austin, Texas on Friday, April 5, 2013. Titled "A Conversation with Senator Ted Cruzon Business Issues," the event was held at the Four Seasons hotel and featured moderator John Holmes who asked Sen. Cruz questions from the audience. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Deborah Cannon) AUSTIN CHRONICLE OUT, COMMUNITY IMPACT OUT, MAGS OUT; NO SALES; INTERNET AND TV MUST CREDIT PHOTOGRAPHER AND STATESMAN.COM (credit:AP)
(09 of17)
Open Image Modal
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks to the Spring Branch Republican Club Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Houston. Cruz is running against Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (credit:AP)
(10 of17)
Open Image Modal
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) arrives to speak at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 16, 2013. Diehard activists at the three-day conference are already picking favorites in what could be a crowded Republican presidential primary in 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (credit:AP)
(11 of17)
Open Image Modal
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 22: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) listens to testimony during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on April 22, 2013 in Washington, DC.The committee is hearing testimony on border security, economic opportunities and the Immigration Modernization Act. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(12 of17)
Open Image Modal
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) debates Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, not shown, at the King Street Patriots event hall, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Houston. The two Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate have repeatedly torn into each other during the third debate as early voting began across Texas. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Michael Paulsen) (credit:AP)
(13 of17)
Open Image Modal
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 13: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) holds a news conference to announce their plan to defund the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, at the U.S. Capitol March 13, 2013 in Washington, DC. Although Cruz and his fellow sponsors expect the legislation to fail, they believe it is an important survey of who supports health care reform. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(14 of17)
Open Image Modal
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) waves as he arrives at a polling station to speak to media and voters in Dallas, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. Cruz faces Democratic candidate Paul Sadler for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by fellow Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (credit:AP)
(15 of17)
Open Image Modal
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Monday, April 1, 2013. Cruz, along with other Republican officials, announced that they believe that Medicaid is a broken system, and that expanding it under the Affordable Care Act is the wrong move for Texas. Shown, from left, are Governor Rick Perry, US Senator John Cornyn and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Deborah Cannon) (credit:AP)
(16 of17)
Open Image Modal
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22: U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) talks with a reporter outside the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill March 22, 2013 in Washington, DC. The Senate voted on amendments to the budget resolution on Friday afternoon and into the evening. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(17 of17)
Open Image Modal
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), left, smiles as he listens to campaign chief consultant Jason Johnson go over election results as they come in Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in Houston. Cruz is running against Democrat Paul Sadler to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (credit:AP)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip