Ted Cruz adds key fundraisers to presidential campaign

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz brought his campaign back to his hometown Monday on what the first term US Senator called a momentous day in the race for the GOP nomination.

Cruz received the endorsement of Lt Gov Dan Patrick, also a Houstonian, and Patrick agreed to be the Texas Chairman for Cruz For President.

"Nobody in the race is a truer conservative than Ted Cruz," said Patrick. "He is big and bold."

Senator Cruz and his team have been seeking the support of statewide elected leaders and in today's press release, touted 41 state lawmakers and six members of congress among their backers.

They also announced the addition of six key fundraisers to their financial team. They all previously backed the campaign of former Texas Governor Rick Perry until he withdrew 100 days into his 2016 run.

"Our average donation is $79," said Cruz. "But we have support from both the grass roots and from business leaders. No other campaign has that." He said it speaks to his message and its appeal among what he calls "grassroots conservatives".

Cruz followed the press conference, streamed live on abc13.com, with a trip to a local gun range. He hosted two contest winners there. The winners were chosen from a drawing at an NRA event, in which there were more than 800 entrants, and an online contest in which the campaign says more than 16,000 people participated.

Cruz is among the 10 GOP contenders who will participate in the primetime debate from Colorado on Wednesday night.