Former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin (R) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) recite the Pledge of Allegiance at a rally on October 13, 2013 in Washington, DC. The two will reportedly join up to support Former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon's senate bid at an upcoming rally. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON– It looks like Sen. Ted Cruz is picking favorites in the quest to replace one of his Senate colleagues.
A spokesman for Former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon told the Associated Press Wednesday that Cruz had endorsed Shannon’s bid for the U.S. Senate and agreed to join him at an upcoming rally in Tulsa. Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee, and Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee are also slated to attend the rally.
“T.W. Shannon is a strong conservative who will fight for individual liberty and help turn our country around,” Sen. Cruz said in a statement provided by his campaign. “T.W. embodies the American dream. I’m proud to offer T.W. my enthusiastic endorsement because not only will he vote the right way, but he’ll stand up and fight with us in the Senate to stop President Obama’s assault on our liberties and defend America’s founding principles.”
Cruz’s endorsement has been an interesting get this election cycle. He told the Dallas Morning News that he would largely stay out of incumbent primaries and refused to endorse fellow Sen. John Cornyn until he won his primary election. But Cruz has walked a fine line in the past.
He called Katrina Pierson “an utterly fearless principled conservative” in a speech touting the primary challenger to Dallas Republican Rep. Pete Sessions. Pierson eventually lost the primary, but used that language in campaign advertisements.
Cruz also complemented Texas attorney general candidate Ken Paxton, and made four state judicial endorsements.
Shannon is running to replace retiring Sen. Tom Coburn, so it isn’t an incumbent primary. However, Republican Rep. James Lankford is also seeking the nomination. Last year, the Republican National Committee named Shannon to its Rising Stars program. During an August 2013 event, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus called those selected to the program “the future of our party.”