Supporters of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz have reportedly filed paperwork to create a super PAC with a goal of raising money to provide Mr. Cruz with financial support for a would-be presidential run in 2016.
Maria Strollo Zack, listed as the chairman/director of the “Stand for Principle” PAC, told the Daily Mail the groups hopes to raise $50 million by the end of March 2016 heading into the primary contests on Super Tuesday.
“The reason we’re starting it is that America craves, thirsts and hungers for strong, bold, principled conservative leadership,” Ms. Zack said.
Super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against political candidates, are not allowed to coordinate with candidates or their campaigns, and a spokeswoman for Mr. Cruz declined to comment on the report. But the 2012 GOP presidential primary demonstrated that the groups can have outsize influence on the way parties select their presidential nominees.
Businessman Foster Friess poured significant money into a super PAC that backed former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, while Nevada casino magnate Sheldon Adelson contributed heavily to groups that supported the candidacy of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and eventual 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
A separate “Draft Ted Cruz for President” super PAC has raised less than $380,000 since it was formed eight months ago and has less than $16,000 in the bank, the Daily Mail reported.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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