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Ted Cruz Claims Win Even Though Strategy To Defund Obamacare Fails

US Senatorial Candidate Ted Cruz
Shelley Kofler
/
KERA News
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz

Senator Ted Cruz is unapologetic for leading the fight that has brought the federal government close to defaulting on its debt payments.

Cruz, the Texas Republican, talked to media shortly after Senate leaders announced a tentative agreement to open government until Jan. 15 and extend the debt ceiling through Feb. 7.

When media suggested Cruz had gained nothing in exchange for a fight that has divided his party, the senator claimed victory.

“We saw first of all millions upon millions of Americans rise up all across this country, over two million people signing a petition to defund Obamacare," Cruz said. "We saw the House of Representatives take a courageous stand listening to the American people that everyone in official Washington just weeks ago said would never happen."

Cruz’s strategy to defund Obamacare has divided factions within his Republican Party and brought criticism from previous supporters. 

Today his hometown newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, said it regretted endorsing Cruz. 

The paper’s editorial board compared Cruz’s style to that of his predecessor, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison saying, “Cruz has been part of the problem in specific situations where Hutchison would have been part of the solution.”

Follow developments from NPR here.

Former KERA staffer Shelley Kofler was news director, managing editor and senior reporter. She is an award-winning reporter and television producer who previously served as the Austin bureau chief and legislative reporter for North Texas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV.