Rumors of the Tea Party’s demise have been greatly exaggerated, as Mark Twain might say.
Following massive victories across the country, which netted 63 House pickups and seven new Republican senators last cycle, this year alone, the Tea Party has won important primary contests with conservative candidates in Indiana and Nebraska.
But the biggest prize is Texas.
A state of 25 million people with 20 media markets that each possess at least one daily newspaper and one local TV station, if the Tea Party can rise up and defeat an establishment, ultra-wealthy candidate in the largest red state in the country, it will change politics in America.
By now, you know about Ted Cruz.
He was described by George Will thusly: “as good as it gets.” Like then-candidate Marco Rubio, he graced the cover of National Review.
He’s been endorsed in near unanimous fashion by the greatest collection of conservative leaders from across the country of any candidate at any level – Palin, Hannity, Levin, Beck, Ron and Rand Paul, Lee, Toomey, Coburn, Santorum. The list goes on.
What you may not know, is that Cruz is facing an onslaught that may defeat him unless we all stand up in the final days of the July 31 primary runoff.
Among the shameful attacks that establishment moderate Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has hurled at Ted: Chinese sympathizer (“Red Ted”), child endangering lawyer, DC insider, amnesty supporter and trial lawyer. They are all false.
In fact, if these attacks were true, I would not be enthusiastically supporting him. Neither would Palin, Levin, Hannity, etc.
The Senate Conservatives Fund, which I support, has raised significant resources for Ted’s campaign, provided grassroots support among its Texas members and even bought TV and radio advertisements. Other groups like the Club for Growth and FreedomWorks have stepped up as well, providing critical air and ground support.
Every penny has been needed to counter the vicious personal attacks on Ted. To date, Dewhurst has spent over $11 million of his own money in almost exclusively negative fashion – attempting to destroy the reputation of Ted Cruz.
We have seen this movie before.
They did it to Pat Toomey, Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, and Rand Paul. The list goes on.
But Ted’s campaign has been remarkable.
He has remained relentlessly focused, disciplined and energized. It gives me great hope about the future of conservatism, the future of the Republican Party, and most importantly the future of America.
David Dewhurst may be a fine person. But he is not running an honorable campaign.
In Ted Cruz, we have a candidate we can enthusiastically support. He needs us now, more than ever.
The election is this Tuesday, July 31. I am doing my part. Every conservative needs to do theirs. America is worth fighting for.
DeMint is a Republican U.S. Senator from South Carolina.
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