Ted Cruz’s Conservative Message Resonates at Glenwood Appearance

Ted Cruz received a warm reception during a campaign stop in Glenwood Friday morning.

The Republican presidential candidate shook hands, signed autographs, posed for photos and answered questions for about 45 minutes during an informal “meet and greet” that attracted an overflow crowd of around 100 people to The Gathering Place coffee shop.

With the Iowa Caucuses now three months away, the most-recent polling numbers in the state show the Canadian-born Cruz sitting third behind Ben Carson and Donald Trump. Supporters at Friday’s event said they expect Cruz’s numbers to rise as more Iowans hear his conservative message.

“I think he’s doing great setting himself off as being different from everybody else,” rural Mineola resident Juan Reyes said. “Other candidates are saying they’re conservative, but when you take a look at their records, it’s not the case. He’s someone I like because he not only talks the talk, he walks the walk.”

In particular, Reyes said he likes Cruz’s desire to repeal Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), protect the U.S. Constitution and get rid of the Internal Revenue Service.

Like Cruz, Reyes’ ancestry can be traced to Cuba. Cruz’s father was Cuban-born and Reyes himself was born in Cuba before immigrating to the United States at the age of 3.

“I know what the other extreme is like and I see our country headed in that direction,” Reyes said. “We need to put a stop to it.”
Erin Woods, Cruz’s campaign chair in Mills County, said the junior U.S. Senator from Texas stands out from other candidates because of his unwavering commitment to conservative causes.

“He is a strong conservative and he doesn’t sway in the court of public opinion,” Woods said.
Woods is optimistic Cruz’s polling numbers will rise in coming weeks as more Iowans become familiar with his track record and stances on major policy issues.

“I don’t think he needs to change much,” she said. “I think his principles and values, as well as his always constant passion for America will do it for him.”
In an interview with The Opinion-Tribune at the conclusion of his visit to Glenwood, Cruz said he prefers  the “meet and greet” format over the more formal town hall-type campaign stop.

“It’s a great opportunity to visit with people, hear their concerns and answer their questions,” Cruz said. “One of the things I so much appreciate about the men and women of Iowa is how seriously you take your politics and how seriously you take your responsibility to look candidates in the eye and determine who’s telling the truth and who’s blowing smoke.”
Cruz said hearing from citizens from communities like Glenwood reaffirms his commitment to conservative-friendly causes.

“People are very concerned about the direction of the country,” Cruz said. “They’re very concerned about the debt, our loss of liberties and loss of constitutional rights. They’re concerned about a weak president and a foreign policy that is not standing with our friends and allies and not standing up to our enemies.”

Cruz’s stop in Glenwood was part of a full day of campaigning in southwest Iowa. He also made appearances in Sidney and Council Bluffs.