Ted Cruz Getting Support From an Opponent’s Home Turf

Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) picked up more endorsements Monday, this time from the home state of one of his opponents.

The Cruz campaign announced its Kentucky State Leadership Team, which consists of Tea Party and conservative leaders from across the Bluegrass State:

• Scott Hofstra is the chairman of the Central Kentucky Tea Party Patriots in Elizabethtown and is the spokesperson for The United Kentucky Tea Party. The United Kentucky Tea Party is the roundtable of Tea Party leaders from around the state of Kentucky.
• Marty Kares-Workman is the former chairwoman of the Crittenden County Republican Party and is currently forming the Crittenden County Tea Party.
• Barbara Knott is the chairwoman of the Owensboro Tea Party and a longtime conservative activist.
• Joe Kalil is the Boone County constable for District 3 and is a Northern Kentucky Tea Party member. He is also a former military officer and a Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame inductee.

Kentucky is the home state of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, who is also seeking the Republican presidential nomination.

“From day one, Cruz has said we needed to coalesce conservatives around the country to get behind his campaign,” Hofstra said. “And there is no better example of that than right here in Kentucky where the various Tea Party leaders have consolidated efforts to support Cruz. He is unapologetically conservative and routinely fights for the issues we care about most. That is the kind of consistent leadership we need in the White House to restore the rule of law, respect the Constitution and end Obama’s reign of lawlessness.”

In response, Cruz said Scott had brought together “longtime conservative activists and members of the liberty community” to organize for his campaign. He said he expects to have a good turnout when Kentucky voters caucus on March 5.

“I deeply appreciate their support, along with the time and effort of so many to make us competitive in Kentucky,” he said.