In Las Vegas, Cruz continues to attack Rubio on immigration

By Scott Lucas

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 | 2:23 p.m.

Two days after he tangled with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in the debate held in Las Vegas, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz continued to press his attack on Florida Sen. Marco Rubio over Rubio’s previous support for what Cruz called “amnesty” for those in the country illegally.

“I oppose amnesty, citizenship and legalization for illegal aliens,” said Cruz, who spoke at Siena, a retirement community in Summerlin, “and I would challenge other Republicans to say the same.”

Rubio’s campaign shot back quickly. Campaign spokesman Joe Pounder said, “After the last few days, the only one who might have gotten bluffed by Sen. Cruz in 2013 was Sen. Cruz in 2015. Proving yet again that he will say anything for political gain, Sen. Cruz is only trying to cover up his support for legalization, which he proudly touted during the immigration debate, well after the immigration debate, from the Senate floor, in a Senate committee room, to reporters across the country, and to his fellow alumni at Princeton.”

The two candidates are battling to coalesce anti-Trump Republican voters, leading to an escalating series of charges. Cruz has attacked Rubio for his work with Democratic senators to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill, an effort that Rubio later abandoned in favor of an issue-by-issue approach that would begin with border security.

Cruz, who said he was “all-in in Nevada,” also criticized Rubio for running what Cruz called “media campaign” that was light on field organization. That line of attack drew on what The New York Times characterized as concerns among some Rubio backers about the senators “hedged, wait-and-see approach,” in early voting states. “With a month and a half until the voting begins, (Rubio) still has not committed himself fully to trying to win any of them.”

Cruz’s appearance began a seven-state, twelve-city tour that focuses on early-voting states, especially in the South. “If you see a candidate whom Washington embraces,” said Cruz in his speech, “run and hide.”

Among the early voting states, Rubio may perform the best in Nevada, where he lived as a child. Rubio’s campaign has been endorsed by Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison, former Gov. Bob List and several prominent members of the Church of Latter-day Saints. (Rubio briefly converted to Mormonism as a child.)

Cruz is playing for conservative voters in the state. In his stump speech, he called for the elimination of federal funds for Planned Parenthood, a repudiation of the nuclear deal with Iran and a repeal of Obamacare. “We will secure the borders,” added Cruz, “and finally end sanctuary cities.”

Cruz spoke at Siena, a retirement community in the southwest valley. He was one of several candidates to hold public events in Nevada before and after the Republican debate on Tuesday, including Rubio, businessman Donald Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and businesswoman Carly Fiorina.