Cruz endorses Sasse for Nebraska Senate

Midland University President Ben Sasse has picked up another big-name conservative endorsement in the Nebraska Senate Republican primary from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

In a statement, Cruz called Sasse the “strongest conservative voice” in the race.

“Ben will not be just another vote in the Senate — he will be a leader in the fight to stop the Obama agenda and repeal ObamaCare from day one.  We need strong reinforcements like him in the United States Senate,” he said.

{mosads}Cruz will attend a rally for Sasse, along with former Nebraska Gov. Kay Orr, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), on Friday.

Sasse has picked up the endorsements of nearly every national conservative group or leader to have weighed in on the race, and recent polling has shown him gaining on the other front-runner, former state Treasurer Shane Osborn.

Osborn, however, has the backing of social conservative leader Phyllis Schlafly, and his campaign on Wednesday was touting the endorsements of five Nebraska conservative leaders, including Nebraska Republican Liberty Caucus President Laura Ebke, Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom President Doug Kagan and Omaha Liberty Ladies President Sheila Heieck, among others.

“We conservatives who have fought in the political front trenches stand firmly with Shane as someone we know and trust.  He is not a political opportunist or beholden to anyone other than Nebraska taxpayers,” said Kagan in a statement touting Osborn, an implicit knock on Sasse.

The two contenders have sparred over who’s truly the Nebraska candidate, with Osborn’s supporters charging Sasse has only just begun courting local conservatives since entering the race.

The two will face off in the primary, along with three other candidates, on May 13.