Ted Cruz supporters make last minute push before Iowa caucus

Tom Abrahams Image
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Cruz supporters make last minute push before Iowa caucus
The latest polling puts Donald Trump in first place. But that isn't stopping opponent Sen. Ted Cruz and supporters from giving up the fight.

DES MOINES, IA (KTRK) -- Just outside Des Moines, you'll find the nerve center of Ted Cruz's Iowa campaign.

On caucus day, it is alive with activity. Volunteers and staffers on the phones, getting people to vote Monday night.

Among the dozens of out-of-state helpers is Dorothy Blackmon. She is from Fort Worth and on the phone from 9 in the morning until 9 at night. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

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"I left my son and my husband back home in Texas. But they supported me coming up here to volunteer," she said, phone in hand. "Ted Cruz is one of the few politicians to really convince me that there is hope for Washington."

Susan Patrick lives in College Station and volunteers at the Houston headquarters once a week. She came here to spread her enthusiasm for her candidate.

"I believe in Ted Cruz," she said. "We've been knocking on doors, talking to the Iowans about Ted Cruz. They love the message that we know him. We know what he's done. He's consistent. He doesn't waiver. They love it."

The campaign boasts 2,000 volunteers statewide. In Iowa, grassroots is the key.

Bryan English is the state director from the campaign. He's been working at it for 11 months and says from the beginning the Senator insisted on building the effort from the ground up.

"I'm feeling tired but excited. This is a great day," he said of caucus day in his home state. "Everybody talks about ground game. Everybody talks about connecting with voters. And when Ted Cruz came in and we started talking about this almost a year ago now.

English explained how the Senate campaign went down in Texas.

"We have recreated that model that I believed worked for the senator in Texas. We've done it here in Iowa. And I think tonight we're going to see the results of that hard work."

It's hard work that continues non-stop up until the moment the caucuses start tonight.