Ted Cruz heads to Vegas in desperate bid to win donors

Ted Cruz heads to Vegas in desperate bid to win donors

Ted Cruz's nascent campaign has been flagging despite getting lots of publicity by being the first one to announce his 2016 presidential candidacy, and he'll have to win some big Jewish donors to help turn things around.

Ted Cruz is on his way to Vegas, and he’s got Republican Jewish donors in his sights.

Cruz launched his presidential campaign just last month and is looking to gain some early momentum — something that he has struggled with despite being one of the first to get some publicity for his announcement, according to a CNN report.

The Texas senator hasn’t made much of a mark in the early polls for the 2016 presidential race, but he is headed to Las Vegas to turn that around.

Other Republicans attending the Republican Jewish Coalition spring meeting include Texas Gov. Rick Perry, New York Gov. George Pataki, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Top Republican presidential candidates such as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker aren’t expected to attend the event.

Without that competition, Cruz will be able to court some of the top Republican donors, including Sheldon Adelson, a casino mogul. Cruz will attempt to convince them that he is the most electable pro-Israel candidate.

A total of four dozen board members will be at the event and will include some big names who are angry at President Obama’s negotiations with Iran and the perception that he snubbed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. About 700 people will attend the spring meeting, a record figure.

The event will happen at Adelson’s Venetian Resort and Hotel, where candidates and top donors will rub elbows. While he won’t be in attendance, Walker is sending Mike Gallagher, his chief foreign policy aide, to the meeting. Bush, meanwhile, is sending his older brother — former President George W. Bush — to speak Saturday evening. Bush appointed many of those at the event to cushy assignments during his tenure, meaning his sway will be tough to beat.

2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney will also show his face. Although he has officially bowed out of the 2016 race, he remains popular with RJC members, and he will speak at the Thursday evening private dinner at Alderson’s home along with Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus.

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