The race for the White House has officially begun.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) announced in a tweet early on Monday morning that he’s running for President of the United States. The official declaration follows widespread news reports that such a move was imminent.
I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support! pic.twitter.com/0UTqaIoytP
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 23, 2015
The tweet came packaged with the season’s first major campaign ad, in which Cruz says winning 2016 will take “a new generation of courageous conservatives” and that he’s “ready to lead the fight.”
The early announcement is widely seen as a tactical move to get a head start on early fundraising.
Later on Monday morning, Cruz took the stage at Liberty University in Virginia before 11,000 students to talk about his campaign.
The choice of Liberty University, a conservative Christian school founded by Jerry Falwell, emphasizes Cruz’s choice to run on the right-wing of the Republican party.
Cruz’s official website, TedCruz.org, outlines the junior senator’s resume and campaign platform, including his stance against net neutrality, gay marriage, abortions, and more.
According to Mother Jones, an Arizona attorney who is also named Ted Cruz snagged TedCruz.com and is using it to support President Barack Obama.
Photo via Gage Skidmore (CC BY SA 2.0)