Mary and I flew into Orlando, Florida this evening after ten intense days of campaigning for Ted Cruz in Wisconsin. A shuttle took us to our car at the park-and-go near the airport. We made the hour-long drive home to Deltona. The pet-/house-sitter had vacated earlier. I was greeted by Sammy, our greyhound, upon entering our front door. I loved on him a bit, petting him while talking to him; his tail wagged like crazy. It is good to be home.
After settling in, I poured myself a diet soda, put on soft music, lit a candle, sat on the soda, propped my feet up on the coffee table, and reflected on the Cruz campaign and our efforts thus far to help him secure the GOP presidential nomination.
Our Conservative Campaign Committee team, of which I am chairman, have followed the Cruz campaign state to state, independently providing boots on the ground, implementing various get-out-the-vote-for-Cruz initiatives. We endorsed Cruz early in the campaign season. We had a banner made that reads, “Ted Cruz: Conservative Hero.” We have displayed that banner at Cruz rallies and on busy street corners in numerous cities in practically every state primary and caucus.
For me to list all the spectacular moments on the campaign trail would make for a very long article. However, for some reason, a memory of Cruz's wife Heidi sticks out in my brain. It kind of epitomizes the tone/vibe of the Cruz campaign that our CCC team has witnessed state to state.
It was a small event, about 150 people, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Ted was not there. Heidi was the keynote speaker. One of the points Heidi made is how Ted is so relaxed and unstressed on the campaign trail. At the end of the event, our team met Heidi. She thanked us for our efforts and posed for a picture in front of our banner.
Our team was piled in the SUV, leaving the event. I saw Heidi and her staffers casually walking to their cars. Heidi had a big smile on her face, chatting with people, seemingly without a care in the world. Her demeanor and body language spoke to me in a way I cannot explain. Ted and Heidi are “for real” folks. What you see is what you get. I believe and trust them.
Another incident that is not particularly political stands out. It was the “Women for Cruz” event in Madison, Wisconsin, which featured a panel discussion with Carly Fiorina, Heidi, Ted, and his mom, Eleanor. Eleanor was extremely frail. It took a couple of security personnel to help her onto the stage. Frankly, Eleanor reminded me of my late mom and most moms of her generation. Eleanor is said to have kept Ted out of trouble as a child; she nurtured his interests. Ted loved and memorized the Constitution. Eleanor drove Ted to numerous group meetings, where he recited the Constitution, impressing adults with his talent for public speaking.
Again, I felt a genuineness in the way Eleanor, Heidi, and Ted expressed their love and admiration for each other – inspiring and quite moving. I whispered to a CCC team member, “If their responses are scripted, Ted, Heidi and Eleanor deserve Academy Awards.” The Cruz family are plain old-fashioned good people-type folks.
Cruz winning Wisconsin was particularly thrilling. Our CCC team was boots on the ground, but it took grassroots support from patriots across America to propel Cruz to victory. Thanks, patriots. I love it when we work together to get-r-done!
Three weeks before the Wisconsin election, pundits and the mainstream media counted Cruz out, claiming that Wisconsin was “a perfect state for Donald Trump.” Immediately on the heels of Cruz's huge win in Wisconsin, 1.3 million patriots across America made $10, $25, and $50 donations to Cruz's campaign, raising over $2 million in one day.
Clearly, a shift toward Cruz is underway. In keeping with the old saying, the cream really does rise to the top. I long suspected that Cruz would emerge as the obvious best GOP presidential candidate once the field narrowed down to a two-man race. Yes, I realize that what's-his-name, the third guy, is still in the race.
Recent polling confirms that Cruz can beat Hillary in the general. The swiftly growing Cruz-mania has given me new hope regarding the character and soul of my country. Mainstream media, Democrats, and the left have convinced the GOP establishment and many Americans that we are now a leftist country. The left's bogus narrative is that a majority of Americans are repulsed by Cruz's brand of conservatism rooted in traditional principles and values that have made America great and exceptional.
The truth is that as more Americans have an opportunity to hear Cruz's commonsense, unfiltered, optimistic, and unifying articulation of conservatism, it connects with their inner spirit. They instinctively know that Cruz's conservatism is best for all Americans. Americans are also beginning to realize that Ted Cruz is the only candidate they can trust to reverse Obama's messes.
After a few days of R&R, Mary and I will rejoin our Conservative Campaign Committee team on the campaign trail for Cruz. Thanks again for all your hard work.
Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American
Chairman: The Conservative Campaign Committee
LloydMarcus.com