Ted Cruz Begins Three-Day Campaign Swing in Iowa

Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz is making a political sweep through Sioux City Monday evening.

“The Democrats are getting more and more open that they are the party of illegal immigration”, he said. With out mentioning Rubio by name, Cruz stated he’d been “proud to lead” the failed Republican effort last month to dam federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Congressman Steve King introduced the Texas Senator, praising Cruz’s stance against things like Obamacare and the Iran Deal, but stopping short of fully endorsing him.

Republican presidential candidate, Sen.

“It does not make sense to be releasing murderers and rapists and yet sadly Senate Democrats are willing to stand in pure party line vote in support of doing just that”, he concluded. He begins Monday in Fort Dodge with a Town Hall meeting at 9:30 a.m. then moves on the Rockwell City for a meet and greet at the Pizza Ranch at noon.

The event at Western Iowa Tech was an opportunity for Cruz to preach his message, of limited government in a fairly conservative part of the state.

Rubio, a Florida senator, has defended the absences by saying the votes were symbolic, and has said electing a Republican president is the best way to ensure Planned Parenthood’s federal funding is eliminated.

Recently, Rubio has come under criticism for missing hearings and Senate votes while campaigning and raising money for his presidential bid. Planned Parenthood is a very popular target for social conservatives due to the abortion services it provides. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during a campaign stop, Monday, October 12, 2015, in Rockwell City, Iowa. Ministers are powerful validators in the Republican caucuses, given their regular contact with Iowa’s religious conservatives.