Eastern Iowa Republican leader leaves post to endorse Cruz

CEDAR RAPIDS - A member of the Republican Party of Iowa State Central Committee has resigned in order to endorse Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for the party's 2016 presidential nomination.

Loras Schulte of Benton County resigned as a 1st District representative of the state party's governing panel rather than the pledge members took not to endorse any candidate before Iowa's first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses Feb. 1.

However, Schulte, long active in conservative politics, sent an email to 'All My Republican Friends” Saturday announcing his resignation and endorsement. In explaining his decision, Schulte said the international situation has 'degraded to levels not seen since the Cold War era.” He said the economy has stagnated to levels last seen during the Carter administration and now 'teeters on a collapse that could rival the Great Depression.”

'Throw in the outright attack on our families and social institutions, and I believe it is time for all Iowans to step up and be counted,” he said, citing a similar decision by 4th District GOP Rep. Steve King to endorse Cruz.

Schulte cited Cruz's defense of the Constitution as well publicly taking on the 'entrenched, but out of touch, Republican leadership in Washington.”

'Ted Cruz demonstrated in his debate performances a solid grasp of the national and international problems we face,” Schulte said. 'And finally, Ted Cruz has proved his willingness to defend the Judeo-Christian heritage that makes America America.”

The endorsement comes as Cruz has been rising in polls in Iowa and elsewhere. In a Quinnipiac University Poll earlier this week, Cruz jumped past retired physician Ben Carson into second place in Iowa. He trailed Donald Trump 25 percent to 23 percent.

Schulte invited people interested in Cruz to meet the senator from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Depot Express in Van Horne. Cruz also will be in Tama at 4:20 p.m. at Casey's General Store.

On Monday, Cruz will be at the University of Iowa Kirkwood Center, 2301 Oakdale Blvd. in Coralville, at 10 a.m.