ORLANDO — There was no question who was the favorite among the crop of possible 2016 Republican White House candidates who wooed conservative activists at a two-day conference here this weekend.
Loud chants of “Run, Ted, run!” filled a hotel ballroom packed with more than 1,500 people Saturday after Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) finished excoriating President Obama’s administration and challenging Republicans to use an upcoming budget vote to try to force through a measure to defund the Affordable Care Act.
“How do you win this fight?” he asked, and the audience responded in unison with him: “Don’t blink!”
Cruz was the last in a series of prominent Republicans who made their pitches at the “Defending the American Dream” summit sponsored by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, a key player in the tea party movement. He followed Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, all of whom addressed the organization Friday.
While the others were warmly received — absent some activists who heckled Rubio over his immigration stance — the reception for Cruz was nothing short of adoring.
Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips introduced the senator from Texas as “a rising leader — mark my words — a rising leader for this nation and for our cause.”
“Ted Cruz, I love you!” a man shouted as Cruz took the stage to a sustained standing ovation.
The senator beamed, taking in the cheers.
“Let me start with a word of warning,” he said. “By virtue of each of you being here today, tomorrow morning you are going be audited by the IRS. So I appreciate the courage of your convictions!”
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