By John T. Bennett
CQ-Roll Call
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Donald Trump announced Friday he will campaign in October for one of his toughest 2016 GOP primary foes, Sen. Ted Cruz, who once called the president a “pathological liar.”
The president tweeted that “Ted has my complete and total Endorsement,” and gave his opponent, Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke, the signature Trump treatment.
“His opponent is a disaster for Texas —weak on Second Amendment, Crime, Borders, Military, and Vets!” Trump wrote.
Cruz and Trump have met several times since the New York real estate executive and reality television host took office. The Texas senator sometimes defends some of Trump’s more controversial moves. But things were not always this supportive and chummy between the former rivals.
Then-candidate Trump dubbed the senator “Lyin’ Ted” during the 2016 GOP primary, and even suggested his father was involved in the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy.
Cruz came back with a vengeance in May 2016, calling Trump a “pathological liar” and “utterly amoral.” He also dubbed his primary foe “a narcissist at a level I don’t think this country’s ever seen,” before branding Trump a “serial philanderer.”
“He describes his own battles with venereal diseases as his own personal Vietnam,” Cruz said then, a jab at Trump’s quips about his sex life after receiving deferments because of bone spurs during America’s war there. At the GOP convention in August 2016, Cruz got a prime speaking time — but did not clearly endorse Trump.
Trump will be injecting himself into one of the most closely watched Senate races of this cycle. If O’Rourke can pull close to Cruz in Texas — or pull ahead in the polls — it would be viewed as a sign of a coming Democratic wave in November. That the president is even heading to the Lone Star State to give his former foe a boost is telling.
O’Rourke’s massive fundraising has led to some cautious optimism among Democrats that he could compete in the state — even if national Democrats still view Texas as a longshot.
O’Rourke and Cruz have both raised roughly $23 million. As of the end of the second fundraising quarter on June 30, O’Rourke, who does not accept PAC money, had $14 million on hand compared with Cruz’s $9 million, according to Federal Election Commission documents.
