Catalina Camia, USA TODAY
LYNCHBURG, Va. (USA Today)—Sen. Ted Cruz kicked off the first major Republican presidential campaign of the 2016 election, vowing Monday to “reignite the promise of America” while making an overt play for evangelical voters.
The Texas senator urged a near-capacity audience at Liberty University to “imagine a president” who would abolish the IRS, secure the borders, grow the economy and protect religious liberty in a speech that also highlighted his immigrant father and the faith journey of his family.
“God’s blessing has been on America from the very beginning of this nation, and I believe God isn’t done with America yet,” the Texas senator said. “I believe in you. I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to reignite the promise of America, and that is why today I am announcing that I am running for president of the United States.”
###
