Former Rep. Ron Paul is 77 years old and no movie star, but the Texan was still the favored GOP candidate of young Americans during the last election, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Wednesday night.
Speaking at an America’s Future Foundation dinner, Cruz mentioned that the two politicians in modern times who inspired young people most were Paul and former President Ronald Reagan.
“When you think about the last election cycle, which Republican inspired more young people than anyone else?” Cruz asked the audience. “Ron Paul.”
“The man’s a septuagenarian,” he joked as the crowd laughed. ”It’s not like — I love Ron Paul, but he’s not Brad Pitt!”
Cruz stressed that the reason politicians like Reagan and Paul captured the attention of youth was because they stood on principle. He dismissed the idea that Republicans needed to back young candidates in order to appeal to youth, saying instead that conviction and leadership were more important.
“I’ll go to my grave with Ronald Wilson Reagan defining what it means to be President,” Cruz said. “To stand for principle, to do the right thing and to do so in a way that brings people together.”
