“The grass roots are energized because the absolutely highest priority in the country in November is to defeat Barack Obama. I have spoken with literally thousands and thousands of tea-party activists - I have yet to meet a single tea-party leader that is not going to vote for Mitt Romney.”

U.S. senator and former Texas attorney general, born in 1970. A conservative Republican, he is best known for his contentious political career, including his 2016 presidential primary campaign and his role in the 2013 government shutdown. His rhetoric often emphasizes limited government, constitutionalism, and opposition to progressive policies.