JANESVILLE - Many of the 200-some people who attended U.S. Senator Ted Cruz's presidential campaign rally in Janesville on Thursday are big believers in the three central characteristics behind his campaign image.
Cruz frequently portrays himself as a Washington outsider, a constitutionalist and religiously devout. And those three qualities were constantly referenced by attendees interviewed by The Gazette as the reasons they preferred him over Republican front runner Donald Trump and other candidates Thursday.
"He believes in the Constitution," said Joyce Keller of Footville prior to Cruz stepping on stage at The Armory on Thursday.
"This country has to go back to its Christian roots," said Randy Ott of Edgerton shortly after Cruz stepped off.
Cruz's appearance brought supporters from the Janesville area and beyond with some coming from as far away as Brown Deer and Roscoe, Illinois. Many who spoke to The Gazette appeared to have made up their minds on Cruz.
A recent Emerson College poll had Cruz and Trump basically locked in a tie over Wisconsin. Cruz led with 36 percent among those who planned to vote in the April 5 primary. Trump carried 35 percent.
Trump currently leads the delegate race with 739 to Cruz's 465. Ohio Governor John Kasich has 143.
But those in Thursday's crowd who weren't certain whom to vote for were hardly considering Trump.
"I don't actually know where he stands on anything because he switches his mind," said Kayla Morgan, who is unsure about Cruz. "I don't like what he says. He's rude, and I don't want him leading us."
Several people interviewed by The Gazette referred to Cruz as a "true conservative" and elaborated by saying Trump too often flip-flops on his positions, which sometime leaves him outside traditional conservative values. Cruz stays consistent, they said.
There were few signs of dissent at the rally. Jordan Snyder of Janesville was one of two people to post up outside The Armory in the wind, ice and snow and stage a "peaceful" protest in opposition to Cruz's "racism towards Muslims and people who practice freedom of religion in their particular way."
Cruz recently came under fire by some after saying that Muslim neighborhoods need to be patrolled and secured by police in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels. Cruz has defended the comment as a reasonable counter-terrorism measure.
Other than that, there was Jamin Arn of Janesville, who expressed dissatisfaction with the Republican Party's two contenders. Trump and Cruz each appealed to him to an extent, but he said Cruz "is not tough enough" and Trump "is not presidential."
"I can't believe these are the only options," he said.
- Reporter Nick Crow
contributed to this report.
Cruz frequently portrays himself as a Washington outsider, a constitutionalist and religiously devout. And those three qualities were constantly referenced by attendees interviewed by The Gazette as the reasons they preferred him over Republican front runner Donald Trump and other candidates Thursday.
"He believes in the Constitution," said Joyce Keller of Footville prior to Cruz stepping on stage at The Armory on Thursday.
"This country has to go back to its Christian roots," said Randy Ott of Edgerton shortly after Cruz stepped off.
Cruz's appearance brought supporters from the Janesville area and beyond with some coming from as far away as Brown Deer and Roscoe, Illinois. Many who spoke to The Gazette appeared to have made up their minds on Cruz.
A recent Emerson College poll had Cruz and Trump basically locked in a tie over Wisconsin. Cruz led with 36 percent among those who planned to vote in the April 5 primary. Trump carried 35 percent.
Trump currently leads the delegate race with 739 to Cruz's 465. Ohio Governor John Kasich has 143.
But those in Thursday's crowd who weren't certain whom to vote for were hardly considering Trump.
"I don't actually know where he stands on anything because he switches his mind," said Kayla Morgan, who is unsure about Cruz. "I don't like what he says. He's rude, and I don't want him leading us."
Several people interviewed by The Gazette referred to Cruz as a "true conservative" and elaborated by saying Trump too often flip-flops on his positions, which sometime leaves him outside traditional conservative values. Cruz stays consistent, they said.
There were few signs of dissent at the rally. Jordan Snyder of Janesville was one of two people to post up outside The Armory in the wind, ice and snow and stage a "peaceful" protest in opposition to Cruz's "racism towards Muslims and people who practice freedom of religion in their particular way."
Cruz recently came under fire by some after saying that Muslim neighborhoods need to be patrolled and secured by police in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels. Cruz has defended the comment as a reasonable counter-terrorism measure.
Other than that, there was Jamin Arn of Janesville, who expressed dissatisfaction with the Republican Party's two contenders. Trump and Cruz each appealed to him to an extent, but he said Cruz "is not tough enough" and Trump "is not presidential."
"I can't believe these are the only options," he said.
- Reporter Nick Crow
contributed to this report.