At Forum, Republicans Throw Political Punches At U.S. Senate Frontrunner
FAIRVIEW (CBSDFW.COM) – The Republicans vying to succeed U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison focused much of their time Monday on federal spending and the need to make deep cuts.
Before more than 150 people at the Heritage Ranch Republican Club in Fairview, former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz vowed to fight.
"There will be no U.S. Senator in the U.S. Senate who is more relentless, more strategic, and I believe more effective dramatically slashing the size and power of the federal government," he said.
But former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert criticized Cruz as a hypocrite because of his support to extend the payroll tax cut.
"Ted was for it. You talk about the deficit, but that added $100 billion to it. It wasn't a tax cut because it's going to have to be paid for," Leppert said.
Former ESPN analyst Craig James said if elected, he'd ask other Senators a simple question: "Let's see your checkbooks. So if you're balancing your own checkbook, why are we not balancing America's checkbook?"
One candidate who didn't show up is the frontrunner, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst.
His campaign says he had a prior commitment. They say he will take part in one televised debate, and "possibly others."
But his challengers weren't impressed. James said, "David Dewhurst owes Texans an apology and an explanation for not showing up here today."
Cruz noted, "Today, marks the 29th candidate forum across the state that he's skipped."
Leppert cautioned, "If someone's not going to engage you during the campaign, they're not going to engage you when they get elected either."
CBS 11 political analyst John Weekley says he believes Dewhurst's limited appearances at these kinds of forums could potentially hurt him with the voters he needs to attract.
