Cruz Marks Organizational Milestone in Early Voting States

Ted Cruz's presidential campaign now has county chairmen in all 171 counties that make up the first four early voting states.

The Texas Republican senator broke the news during an interview Monday on Michigan radio, saying no other candidate has built the same level of organization yet.

"We're the only campaign that has a county chairman in every county in the first four states," Cruz said, referring to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

*****

Cruz, meanwhile, is ratcheting up his travel to Iowa as his presidential campaign puts a new focus on the early voting state. 

Cruz's team unveiled a schedule Tuesday that has the Texas Republican senator making 20 stops in the Hawkeye State over six days this month. The itinerary includes a previously announced trip that includes 12 events over three days starting Monday. 

Cruz is then scheduled to return to Iowa from Oct. 23-24 for seven more stops. He is set to be back in the state on Halloween to speak at a forum hosted by the Iowa GOP in Des Moines. 

Cruz's packed Iowa itinerary is the latest sign he is ramping up his campaign in the state after a relatively slow start. He opened his first campaign office in the Hawkeye State last month and is adding to his paid staff there.

*****

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, is officially returning to the campaign trail for Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

Her campaign announced Thursday that Castro will stump for Clinton, the former secretary of state, on Sunday in early voting Nevada. He is scheduled to attend two events in Las Vegas: a canvass launch and "Latino phone bank," according to the campaign. 

Clinton's team had previously said Castro would campaign for her in the Silver State ahead of the first Democratic presidential debate, which is being held Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Castro first hit the campaign trail for Clinton in August in Iowa, the first early voting state. His twin brother, U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro, is rumored to be on Clinton's shortlist for running mates.

*****

Clinton is also set to raise money for her campaign while visiting Texas next week. 

The former secretary of state will appear at a fundraiser Oct. 15 in Houston, according to a top Clinton ally in Texas. 

Her campaign had previously announced she would speak the same day in San Antonio as part of a month-long push to shore up support among Hispanic voters.

*****

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is using a speech next week in Texas to unveil a "sweeping tax reform proposal," his campaign announced Wednesday.

The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania is scheduled to roll out the plan during an address Monday to the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Ft. Worth. 

Santorum is set to speak later Monday at a meeting of the NE Tarrant Tea Party, whose leader, Julie McCarty, is helping lead his campaign's efforts in Texas.  

Santorum will be back in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Oct. 18, when he is one of six GOP hopefuls who have confirmed for a forum at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano. 

*****

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is coming to Texas to raise money for his presidential campaign later this month.

The GOP hopeful is holding a fundraiser Oct. 20 in Dallas, according to an invitation. The event will take place at the home of Jane and Bud Smith, and it costs at least $1,000 to attend.

The fundraiser also falls two days after the Plano forum for White House hopefuls at Prestonwood Baptist Church. Kasich has not yet confirmed for the event.