U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, vowed to bring jobs and economic growth back to California when he spoke to supporters in San Diego Monday.
Cruz spoke at the Town and Country Resort in Mission Valley to rally his conservative base, trying to enlist support in advance of California's primary.
Trying to get an early jump on the Golden State's delegate-rich soil, Cruz spoke earlier Monday in Irvine. He followed a familiar script in San Diego, touting himself as the candidate to secure jobs, freedom, and security for America.
Cruz told attendees he would repeal "every word of Obamacare" when he was elected president and wanted to increase economic opportunity for Americans, though he did not outline a plan to do so.
"In 2017 we're going to pull the boot of Washington off of California and you're going to see jobs and economic growth back in California,” Cruz said during his speech.
It's unclear how many attendees were inside the venue during the rally. Organizers anticipated more than 2,000. Reserved tickets sold out in an hour.
Protestors congregated outside the venue prior to the rally, holding signs reading "You Cruz, You Lose," and "Veterans Are Not Applause Lines."
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"As we know in the state of California, 'whine' is something best served with cheese,” Cruz said mocking Donald’s Trump’s complaint the delegate rules are unfair.
"You know, he knows the constitution inside and out, which is something very important to me," one Cruz supporter told NBC 7.
San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith was one of several people who spoke to introduce the Senator, who attended a private function in the city prior to the rally. Cruz left San Diego immediately after the rally.
California’s primary election is June 7.
While the GOP nomination is usually decided well before the Golden State votes, California’s 172 delegates will play an important role to see if any candidate can reach the required 1,237 delegates to clinch the nomination without a contested convention.
