Cruz urges Pa. Republicans to unite behind him

HERSHEY, Pa. - Fresh off a bruising loss in the New York primary, Sen. Ted Cruz assured a rousing crowd of Central Pennsylvania supporters Wednesday that he is on track to snag the Republican nomination because he is the only candidate who can win in the general election.

Speaking to several hundred people at the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, Cruz dismissed an assertion by GOP rival Donald Trump that his New York win means the primary race is over.

Instead, the Texas senator predicted he will be the one standing after Republicans gather in Cleveland this summer. Cruz said he's the only one who can beat Hillary Clinton.

"The most powerful force in our time is the grassroots of the American people rising," Cruz said. "We must unite the Republican Party . . . because if we are divided we lose."

In his 30-minute speech, Cruz hit many of the same themes he did during his first visit to Pennsylvania this month: the need for smaller government and stronger national security. He reiterated his pledge to repeal Obamacare, cut off benefits for illegal immigrants, abolish the Internal Revenue Service and institute a flat tax that would allow Americans to file their taxes "on a postcard."

His visit was the latest in what is expected to be a barrage of presidential campaign stops across Pennsylvania in the next six days. Clinton was due in Philadelphia on Wednesday and her fellow Democrat, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, had at least two stops statewide planned for Thursday, as did Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Trump has a Thursday night rally planned in Harrisburg.

Most polls of Pennsylvania voters have suggested he and Clinton have double-digit leads in their respective races. Kasich is running second in the GOP race, with Cruz lagging.

Analysts say Central Pennsylvania will be one of the key battlegrounds for Republican hopefuls. GOP voters here tend to be more conservative than in the more densely populated corners of the state, placing high priority not just on traditional party values of smaller government and lower taxes, but also on key social issues.

To win, Cruz needs to win over Republicans like Jennifer Story.

A Lancaster mom who attended the rally with her two children, Story said she is wavering between Cruz and Kasich.

The issues that will drive her decision run along the social spectrum. She's anti-abortion, home-schools her children, and believes in what she called "the moral qualities of the Bible."

For her, Trump is not an option. She doesn't like that he feeds voters' anger, rather than try to find solutions to tamper it. "It incites mob mentality," Story said.

Richard Backstrom of Mount Wolf was not conflicted. He is a Cruz supporter, "a believer in our 2nd Amendment rights."

And he believes Trump is secretly a foil - running to win the nomination and assure Clinton wins the White House.

"I don't believe he entered the race to win," said Backstrom, a Vietnam veteran. "Trump got into the race to get Hillary elected."

acouloumbis@phillynews.com

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