Ted Cruz Endorses Karoline Leavitt in NH GOP Congressional Primary,
Could the road to the White House run through New Hampshire's First Congressional District for Sen. Ted Cruz?
A day after former Boston news personality Gail Huff Brown announced she would be the fifth Republican in the GOP primary Leavitt, 24, announced on her Twitter account Wednesday morning that she's got the backing of the Texas senator.
"It is time we send a new generation of leaders to Washington DC," Cruz said in his statement. "I am proud to endorse Karoline and I ask my fellow conservatives in New Hampshire in supporting her campaign for Congress."
Leavitt said she was "honored and excited to be endorsed by one of the most effective fighters for conservative values in Washington"
Dean Spiliotes SNHU Civic Scholar and the founder of NH Political Capital told Seacoast Current the endorsement could be a strategic one for Cruz possibly looking at a 2024 presidential primary run.
"If Trump doesn't run Cruz will seriously look at running again. This gives him an open invite to campaign. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to have him campaign," Spiliotes said.
Cruz finished third in the 2016 GOP presidential primary with 11% of the vote behind John Kasich and Trump.
"There's not a huge Cruz constituency here but in 'Trump World' and within the right wing of the Republican party he'll be an interesting draw," Spiliotes said, adding that it might be a bit early but not surprised he went with Leavitt.
"She's a logical choice for him," Spiliotes said.
The Hampton resident this week said she has raised $333,000 for her campaign so far, second to rival Matt Mowers who announced he had raised $450,000.
Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH