Sen. Ted Cruz endorsed Ben Sasse Wednesday in the GOP Senate primary in Nebraska and will hold a rally for him on Friday.
“I have gotten to know Ben Sasse, and while Nebraskans have good choices, Ben is the strongest conservative voice running for United States Senate,” Mr. Cruz said in a statement put out by the Sasse campaign.
“Ben will not be just another vote in the Senate — he will be a leader in the fight to stop the Obama agenda and repeal Obamacare from day one. We need strong reinforcements like him in the United States Senate.”
Mr. Sasse is running against Shane Osborn, a former state treasurer, as well as Sid Dinsdale and Bart McLeay in the May 13 primary.
The Osborn campaign countered the news of the Cruz endorsement by announcing it had received the endorsements of five prominent Nebraska conservative leaders: Nebraska Republican Liberty Caucus President Laura Ebke, Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom President Doug Kagan, Nebraska Tea Party Patriots coordinator DeeDee Kelly, Western Nebraska Taxpayers Association Chairman Mike Groene and Omaha Liberty Ladies President Sheila Heieck.
Whoever wins the race is expected to go on to win the general election and replace retiring GOP Sen. Mike Johanns.
Mr. Sasse, a former health official in the administration of George W. Bush, has won the backing of Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Mike Lee of Utah. He also has support from Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, as well as the Senate Conservatives Fund, Club for Growth and Family Research Council.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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