Perry & Cruz At GOP Gathering: 2016 Preview?
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - A pair of Texans who are eyeing possible 2016 presidential runs are both addressing the kind of top-tier conservative event necessary to build national support. Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Ted Cruz are addressing the RedState Gathering in Fort Worth on Friday.
Perry kicked off the day talking about immigration, states rights, the Affordable Care Act and his new political action committee. The Governor did not talk about the U.S. air strikes in Iraq either during this speech or afterward.
The RedState Gathering is focused on conservative issues and the upcoming midterm election. Perry talked about border security and the National Guard troops that he ordered to the Mexican border last month. "Too often Washington wants to treat the symptoms of a problem, not the root causes," Perry said. "The root cause of this tragedy in Texas is a border Washington refuses to secure. It's time for the federal government to live up to its constitutional mandate. This is a national problem. It comes under federal jurisdiction. Congress shouldn't be on a five-week vacation. I can assure you the drug cartels and the gangs aren't on vacation."
Briefly the 2012 GOP presidential front-runner, Perry raised $17 million in just 49 days. But his campaign flamed out after his infamous "oops" moment debate brain freeze. He has since remade his cowboy image, donning stylish glasses and studying up on foreign and domestic policy.
Meanwhile, Cruz has become a tea party superstar, stirring up controversy on Capitol Hill and enraging top congressional leaders from both parties. His keynote takes place later in the day. CBSDFW.COM will stream the speech from Cruz when it happens at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Friday.
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