Sen. Ted Cruz, who is going all out in Tuesday’s Nevada GOP caucus by calling for the federal government to give up its lands in the Silver State, is getting some unusual form of support: fasting.
After Ted Cruz’s disappointing third-place South Carolina finish on Saturday, conservative radio host Glenn Beck called on fellow Cruz supporters to fast Monday for the Texas senator and, presumably, his victory – prompting some ridicule on social media.
“I would like to ask you to join me and my family Monday in a fast for Ted Cruz, our country and the Nevada caucus,” said Beck on Facebook.
Beck said the next day he was sticking with his plan despite the volley of tweets from Trump supporters – one said “you’re insane” and another posted a picture today of Beck eating a sandwich, saying “busted.”
Beck updated his Facebook post, saying, “And the mocking continues. It is sad that this is news to the Trump hit media. I’m not running from this. . . . Prayer, fasting and asking for a humbling of ourselves and nation.”
Beck clarified that he wasn’t praying and fasting for a Cruz win but for God’s will “to be done.”
Cruz now trails Donald Trump and Marco Rubio in Nevada, with 17 percent of the vote to the New York billionaire’s 45 percent and Florida Sen. Rubio’s 19 percent, according to a new CNN poll.
In a bold move to draw support from anti-government voters and distinguish himself from Trump, Cruz has released TV ads touting his plan for the federal government to return the 85 percent of Nevada’s land that it owns to the state.
“Donald Trump wants to keep big government in charge,” said Cruz in a 30-second ad. “That’s ridiculous. You the people of Nevada, not Washington bureaucrats, should be in charge of your own land.”
In an interview in January, Trump said he was opposed to the sell-off of public lands to the states.
“I don’t like the idea because I want to keep the lands great, and you don’t know what the state is going to do,” Trump told Field & Stream.
Nevada has a vocal anti-government movement regarding public lands, led by rancher Cliven Bundy. He was arrested earlier this month in Portland, Oregon, after he went to support his sons who were part of a militia that had taken over a wildlife refuge building.
Maria Recio: 202-383-6103, @maria_e_recio
Comments