Cruz Plans Another Major Southern Swing

Ted Cruz is planning another major swing through the South to show off his presidential campaign's organization deep into the primary calendar.

The Texas senator is set to visit 12 cities over the course of a week following the next Republican debate, which is being held Tuesday in Las Vegas. Cruz is expected to hit the road Thursday, with stops planned through Dec. 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada; St. Paul, Minnesota; Richmond, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Mobile, Alabama; Birmingham, Alabama; Knoxville, Tennessee; Nashville, Tennessee; Little Rock, Arkansas; Tulsa, Oklahoma and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

The jam-packed swing is similar to an effort Cruz made in August, when he went on a weeklong bus tour of the so-called "SEC primary" states. The group of mostly southern states, including Texas, is set to vote on March 1. 

"Now we want to go through and visit those states again, remind people that Sen. Cruz is very interested in earning their support," Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler said Friday. 

Cruz is not scheduled to visit his home state of Texas during the southern swing, though he is due in Cisco on Dec. 29 for a fundraiser and rally. 

Politico first reported Cruz was planning the trip.