Press release from the Ted Cruz for Senate campaign:
Ted Cruz for Senate Campaign Raises More Than $1 Million in Ten Weeks
Demonstrates Broad Grassroots Support with More Than 1,100 Contributions from 122 Texas Cities and 37 States Across the Nation
AUSTIN, Texas—Former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz announced today that his campaign for U.S. Senate has raised more than $1 million from donors across Texas and the nation in the first quarter of the 2012 election cycle.
“I am humbled by this extraordinary fundraising support across Texas and the Nation,” Cruz said. “Conservatives and independents everywhere are hungry for new leadership to step forward and stop the Obama Agenda, and I am honored that so many Texans are looking to this campaign to help provide that leadership.”
The campaign received more than 1,100 contributions from over 900 unique individuals in 122 Texas cities and 37 States. Seventy percent of the contributions were made online atwww.tedcruz.org.
The campaign officially launched on Jan. 19, raising an average of $100,000 a week in 10 weeks.
Cruz added: “Conservatives in the Senate desperately need reinforcements—strong leaders with a proven conservative record and a seriousness of purpose to cut federal spending and permanently limit the size of government.”
When conservative stalwart Senator Mike Lee endorsed the campaign last month, he observed, “We’re in an epic fight—to stop the Obama agenda, to reverse the out-of-control spending in Washington, and to restore the constitutional limitations on our federal government. We need Ted Cruz in the Senate to help lead this fight and to help us win.”
Cruz added, “I’m deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to our fight for liberty. We’re building a conservative coalition across Texas and the nation, we’ve got extraordinary momentum, and, together, this is a fight we’re going to win.”
Included in this quarter’s fundraising total is a $70,000 loan from the candidate.
In addition, the campaign continues to gain tremendously strong grassroots enthusiasm with more than 70,000 supporters on Facebook and Twitter—more than any statewide official in Texas.
A few thoughts. First, these are very good numbers even if they are a bit short of the numbers that Tom Leppert put up. We haven't seen the number of contributors from Leppert but I doubt his contributions are as broad based as Cruz's, whch bodes well at the voting booth. It will be interesting to see if Leppert raised his money in state – Cruz raised quite a bit outside of Texas. Second, what is left for the trio of Michael Williams, Roger Williams, and Elizabeth Ames Jones? I'm guessing here but I don't see them coming close to a million bucks. Speaking of Roger Williams, his last press release was issued over two months ago, is he done?
And lastly, what does this say about Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst? It says to me that people are looking at his lack of leadership on the Texas budget cuts and making the decision that he isn't going to dominate the field once he enters after all. I mean, you can drop all the money you want but if "the Dew" doesn't deliver the cuts necessary to balance the budget without seeking "non-tax revenue enhancements", he's toast in Republican primary.
If you are a Cruz supporter, you have to be smiling today.