America
Ted Cruz says he will run for US presidency
Washington, March 23
Republican Senator from
Texas Ted Cruz has confirmed his intention to run for the US
presidential election in 2016, Efe news agency reported.
"I am
running for president and I hope to earn your support," Cruz, one of the
visible heads of the ultra-conservative 'Tea Party' movement, wrote on
his Twitter account.
He is the first Republican to officially
announce his presidential aspirations, marking the beginning of a long
electoral race for the White House, scheduled for November 2016.
Media
were speculating that Cruz would confirm his intention to compete for
the Republican candidature during a ceremony at the Liberty University
in Lynchburg, but Cruz finally decided to do so through social
networking sites.
Cruz is one of the rising young stars and one of the most controversial figures of the Republican Party.
He
is also known for his scepticism towards the moderate sections of the
party and for his outright criticism of the policies of President Barack
Obama who belongs to the rival Democratic Party.
Other
Republican aspirants like Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio
of Florida are also expected to throw their hats into the ring in April.
Among
other conservatives, former Florida governor Jeb Bush has confirmed his
intention to fight the primaries. However, he is yet to make a formal
announcement.
As for the Democrats, all focus seems to be fixed
exclusively around former secretary of state Hillary Clinton who is
expected to take a decision around the middle of 2015.