Cruz making 5 stops in Tennessee on weeklong tour of South

He also said he wanted to end religious persecution that happens throughout the nation.

Said Diehl, “I liked his comments”.

Speaking to NewsChannel 9’s Katherine Marchand shortly before the event, Cruz briefly mentioned the Chattanooga shootings while criticizing the Obama administration. “I thought that was heroic”.

“It’s just insane being in the room with the man who is going to be president”, she said.

Some in the audience are yet to commit their vote, such as Brian Phelps of Murfreesboro.

“I have a few candidates”. “The notion that we’re all toting our sheet and white top hat and stuff is so wrong, and I’m hoping that’s what people will see”.

Spring Hill resident Chris Pixley was one of those parents, with all of his children fanned out below him.

Cruz spoke for about 45 minutes, touching on a number of issues from Planned Parenthood and ISIS to Obamacare and the IRS.

Cruz drew hundreds to his events in Tennessee, drawing cheers for promises to abolish the U.S. Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service.

“Rip to shreds the catastrophic Iranian nuclear deal”, Cruz said.

“Stop financing radical Islam and terrorism”, Cruz told the approving crowd.

MORE: What’s behind Cruz’s current tour of Southern states. Mr. Mercer has donated over $11 million to Cruz-affiliated super PACS.

The Texan said he is counting on grassroots mobilization to win the nomination. “All across the country people are waking up”. Cruz said that the Fort Hood victims were victims of Islamic extremism, not “workplace violence”.

Lana Sutton pointed out that Ted Cruz’s campaign is primarily funded by only 1 person, billionaire hedge fund CEO Robert Mercer. “We have not had much contact in the past 30 years, but it’s good to renew old acquaintances”. “You know, there are some folks in this race”.

Wiley further noted that Page 31 of Cruz’s book, “It’s time for the Truth”, talks about how the senator’s father returned to be with his wife and the then 3-year-old Cruz after being baptized by the preacher.

At least 800 people were in a gym at the Patterson Community Center and another 200 listened from an adjoining gym. “He’s on my short list, but I have not made my decision yet”, said Clayton Collins of Ooltewah.

Rutherford County Republican Party Chairwoman Donna Barrett was pleased with the turnout. “We are inviting all of the Republican Party candidates for president to come to Rutherford County to speak and meet our voters personally”.

“In my view, the SEC primary on Super Tuesday is going to play a huge role in insuring that the next Republican nominee for president is a true and a strong conservative which I believe is the way we win in November 2016”, Cruz said.

Part of the Texas senator’s strategy involves targeting a key group of voters: evangelical Christians, where Cruz sees untapped potential.

As Cruz prepared to take the stage at about 12:35 p.m., the crowd shouted his name and held up signs.

Senator Cruz also touched on various other issues, both foreign and domestic, and was met with loud cheers and standing ovations after stating his stance on each one.