(West Des Moines, IA) U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) questioned Donald Trump’s decision to skip Thursday night’s Fox News debate in Des Moines, IA. He told the crowd of approximately 400 supporters on Wednesday night at a standing-room-only rally that it was like leaving in the middle of a job interview.
“Now tomorrow we have got a debate, even though one of the candidates has chosen not to attend. Apparently Mr. Trump considers Megyn Kelly very, very scary, and you know that Donald is a fragile soul. I mean she might ask a mean question and who knows what could happen. I mean his hair could stand on end,” Cruz joked.
“You know I’ve got to say, it is an amazing statement for a presidential candidate to say ‘I’m not willing to show up for the debate.’ This entire process is a job interview. We spent seven years with a narcissistic, self-involved President in Washington who thinks the American people work for him. Who behaves like an emperor, if he decrees something it must be so. It has been all about Obama – the chosen one – for seven years. What does it say if a candidate says I’m not willing to stand in front of the men and women of Iowa? What does it say when the Donald tells the men and women of Iowa ‘my time is more important than your time’?” Cruz asked.
He pointed out the difference with his campaign. “On Monday we will have completed the full Grassley having gone to all 99 counties in the state of Iowa. Standing in front of the men and women of Iowa, looking you in the eyes and asking you the hard questions. That is what any candidate who hopes to win the state of Iowa owes the men and women of this state,” he added.
Cruz challenged Trump to a one-on-one debate held before Iowa Republican voters caucus on Monday. They reserved space at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City for Saturday, January 30th at 8:00 p.m. Cruz suggested the moderators either be radio hosts Mark Levin, Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh, or that the format simply be questions from the audience. He said he will anxiously await Trump’s response.
Several surrogates joined Cruz for the rally on Wednesday. Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX), former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Congressman Steve King (R-IA), The FAMiLY Leader CEO and President Bob Vander Plaats and Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council who just endorsed Cruz on Tuesday were on hand and addressed the crowd.
Gohmert explained why he was pro-life and his decision to back Cruz for President.
Perry explained how he got to know Cruz and why he endorsed his candidacy.
King said that Cruz was a full-spectrum Christian conservative and the leader that is needed for the time.
Vander Plaats turned his attention to Trump and addressed Trump’s Twitter attack on Tuesday.
Perkins explained why he was backing Cruz.
Cruz spoke for 40 minutes to the energized crowd.
Cruz is in the midst of completing 23 events over the last few days. He’ll end his tour of Iowa with a pre-caucus rally on Sunday night at 9:15p at the Elwell Family Food Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.