Rep. Steve King threw his political muscle Monday behind Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential bid, giving the Texas Republican a powerful surrogate in Iowa, where the caucus will kick off the nomination race in February.
Mr. King described Mr. Cruz as the “full package” and a true conservative, with strong appeal among Christian conservatives, libertarians and disaffected Democrats.
“I believe Ted Cruz is the candidate who is the answer to my prayers. The candidate that God will use to restore the soul of American,” Mr. King said at a press conference at a hotel in Des Moines.
Mr. King is one of the most coveted surrogates in Iowa. He endorsed former Sen. Fred Thompson in 2008, but he took a pass on backing any of the candidates in the 2012 GOP nomination race.
The congressman said he decided to endorse because the stakes are so high in the race, and he criticized the Obama administration.
The announcement comes as Mr. Cruz appears to be picking up momentum in the GOP presidential race. He is running fourth in the Real Clear Politics average of national polls, as well as in surveys out of Iowa.
Mr. King represents the 4th congressional district in northwest Iowa, which is a GOP stronghold.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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