Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz endorsed Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and promised to protect the Constitution during two tightly packed rallies at the American Prep Academy in Draper and Provo High School.
Lee and Cruz, along with speakers like former GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, Utah Lt. Governor Spencer Cox and talk show host Glenn Beck centralized their rally speeches on how the U.S. Constitution is in danger.
“Our country is in crisis because we are bankrupting our kids and grand kids. … Our constitutional rights are under assault each and every day,” Cruz said.
Cruz attacked rival Donald Trump by mentioning how Trump wants to compromise religious freedom. “Let me be very very clear: I will not compromise away your religious freedom,” Cruz said as the crowd erupted in cheers.
Fiorina said the Constitution is meant to block leaders from taking too much power.
Talk show host Glenn Beck said the first endorsement he’s given will be for Ted Cruz. “If we do not find ourselves as Americans in this election, we’re never going to find a way to lead us where we need to go,” he said.
In addition, Beck made mentions of his faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and tied that in with the U.S. Constitution. “The body of the priesthood is known to stand up when the Constitution hangs by a thread.” he said.
“What held me through (as a Latter-day Saint) was the prophecy that the Constitution will hang by a thread and this people will remember what our founders did.”
In Provo, Cox talked about the importance of Tuesday’s upcoming caucus and how Cruz needs to win.
“Cruz cannot just win… he needs to win by a landslide,” he said. “On Tuesday night, Utah is going to be the designated driver of the Republican Party.”
In both rallies, Cruz and Lee address one another as friends as a part of their reciprocal endorsements. “A friend tells the truth, and a friend does what he says he’s going to do,” Lee said. “Ted Cruz is a friend.”
In turn, Cruz endorses Lee by telling the audience how Lee acts as the voice of Utah.
“(Sen Lee) doesn’t work for the lobbyists in Washington, he works for the great people in the state of Utah,” Cruz said.
Cruz warned the audiences that voting for him will make a difference at the Utah Caucus. “A vote for John Kasich is a vote for Donald Trump,” Cruz said.
