Cruz adds billionaire who backed Perry

That was message from the Cruz campaign Monday, when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and several wealthy donors threw their support behind the Texas senator’s White House bid.

Cruz trumpeted the new donors at a press conference in Houston, stressing that only his campaign has been able to combine the power of small donors and large donors to have a deep run into next year.

Cruz and Patrick shared mutual praise for each other’s work in Washington, D.C. and Austin, respectively, bolstering their conservative credentials with the grass roots that already adores them both. Cruz received the endorsement of Lt Gov Dan Patrick, also a Houstonian, and Patrick agreed to be the Texas Chairman for Cruz For President.

Cruz’s camp didn’t say how much money the six donors will commit to the Texas senator or his super PAC, which had raised $38 million as of late July. “Our average donation is $79”, said Cruz.

While insisting that he respects the Bush family, Cruz tweaked the GOP establishment and its dynastic politics and asserted that he better represents the Republican Party as it stands today.

Cruz is also expected to reveal he is beefing up his National Finance Committee with eight prominent donors to Perry, who dropped out of the presidential race last month amid fundraising problems.

Patrick endorsed David Dewhurst over Cruz during their Senate contest in 2012. “But at the same time, Texans recognize that circumstances have changed after seven years of Barack Obama in Washington”.

The comment came in response to a question about why the Bush family may no longer represent an increasingly fractious Republican Party; but Cruz, when asked what specifically about Jeb Bush casts him in the mold of those past GOP nominees, asserted that he wasn’t referring to any candidate in particular.

Cruz and Patrick were not always as chummy. “I am humbled and honored to have their support and the support from major business leaders across the state of Texas”.