Cruz in Ankeny: ‘It’s now or never’

ANKENY - Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz was joined Saturday by some influential backers who told Iowans they hold the future direction of the nation in their hands when they head to their precinct caucuses next week to register their choice who they think should be the next U.S. president.

'We are fighting to save this country,” Cruz told about 1,900 supporters at Faith Baptist Bible College.

'It's now or never. We're at the edge of a cliff, and we've got to pull back before we risk losing the greatest country in history,” the first-term U.S. senator from Texas said.

'I can't win this race, but you can. That is the strength of this campaign; it is grass roots; it is ‘we the people.' ”

Addressing the crowd for nearly 40 minutes, Cruz made his case why he is the best choice among a crowded 2016 GOP field. He cited his record of opposing abortion, supporting traditional marriage and gun rights, and challenging the establishment.

He also differentiated himself from his closest rivals, New York billionaire Donald Trump and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, on immigration. He pledged a tough stance against the Iran arms deal and radical Islamic terrorist, if elected president.

'Don't listen to what we say. Look at what we do,” Cruz exhorted Iowans who are nailing down their decisions in the final week running up to the Feb. 1 caucuses.

Joining Cruz at the rally is nationally syndicated TV and radio host Glenn Beck, who said he was breaking a 40-year tradition of not endorsing any candidate by coming out publicly in support of Cruz.

Beck said Cruz has waged a 'David and Goliath” battle to change Washington that has impressed him in an election cycle that 'may be our last shot to save the republic.” He said there has been a progressive movement afoot for the past century that 'will either be stopped dead in tracks by the next president or our country, and our Constitution will be lost as we understand it.”

Beck, a conservative political commentator, blasted Trump's message that he will make America great again, saying the individual spirit and grit of the American people will do that rather than a self-centered candidate whom he called empty, arrogant and dangerous.

'If Donald Trump wins, it's going to be a snowball to hell,” Beck told the Iowans in attendance.

'This time for silliness and reality show tactics is past,” he added. 'It's been fun but, Iowa, I beg you, my children's future depends on what you do a week from Monday.”

Bob Vander Plaats, head of the Iowa-based Family Leader network, told the crowd Cruz is the right man for the times and 'Feb. 1 you need to show up” as well as bring others with them to their local precincts. 'We need to send America a message. We need to send the entire world a message,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, another Cruz endorser, called the Texas senator a 'full-spectrum constitutional Christian conservative” who will deliver on his campaign promises and values once he gets to the White House.

Cruz also campaigned Saturday night in Waterloo.

'We have a chance to make the first and the best recommendation to the rest of the country on who we think should be the next president of the United States,” King told the Cruz rally.

Sam Lau, communications director for the Iowa Democratic Party, issued a statement after the Ankeny rally saying 'Glenn Beck is a divisive and extreme figure who opposes a woman's right to choose, denies the existence of climate change, and stands against commonsense gun control measures that keep our communities safe. So it's no surprise he has endorsed Ted Cruz.”