Rachel Rose Hartman
Yahoo! News
7/31/2012
Ted Cruz clinched the Republican nomination in the Texas Senate runoff race Tuesday night, handing the tea party a major victory and instantly becoming the odds-on favorite to win the open seat this fall.
Cruz, a Cuban-American lawyer who formerly served as state solicitor general, received 54 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst with 20 percent of precincts reporting.
“This has been a hard-fought and spirited primary battle and the people of Texas would have been fortunate to have any one of these well-qualified candidates as their next U.S. Senator. But I could not be more pleased with the nomination of Ted Cruz and I offer my warmest congratulations to Ted, his wife Heidi and their two daughters,” National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman John Cornyn, a fellow Texan, said in a statement. “He and his team ran a remarkable race and this is a well-deserved and well-earned victory.”
Dewhurst, who was backed by Gov. Rick Perry, easily dominated the nine-candidate May 29 primary with 44 percent of the vote. But he failed to receive the majority required to avoid a runoff against second-place finisher Cruz. Due to significant tea party support and grassroots exposure, Cruz was able to stay competitive against Dewhurst, who remained well-funded and well-connected. As of July 11, Dewhurst had raised over $24.5 million compared to Cruz’s $9 million, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
By the time of Tuesday’s election, Cruz had become widely regarded as the runoff frontrunner.
Cruz’s victory is a major coup for the tea party…
The article continues at Yahoo! News.
Update: Sore loser: Big Guv Repub Bob Bennett declares “Tea Party wave is receding” You wish.
