Texas Tea Party Feud Pits Cruz Against Patrick
AUSTIN (AP) – Long-simmering tensions between a tea party-backed U.S. Senate candidate and a leading tea party voice in the Texas Legislature have boiled over.
Former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz and Sen. Dan Patrick yelled at each other during a lengthy radio interview Thursday.
Cruz appeared on Patrick's radio show and accused the host of indirectly supporting his senatorial opponent, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, without admitting it.
Patrick responded that he has not endorsed anyone, but also accused Cruz of lying and not understanding how the state Legislature works.
Cruz eventually interjected, ""you want me to respond, or you just want to yell at me?"
Cruz and Dewhurst face a July 31 runoff election for their party's nomination to replace retiring Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
(Copyright 2012 the Associated Press)
