Like freezing a wart or cutting a bunion in desperation, the Club for Growth has shown its true RWNJ colors by openly endorsing a presidential candidate. Ted Cruz is the beneficiary of this precedent.
Numerous super-PACs have been scurrying to waste media and GOTV resources on the remaining GOP primaries much like killing insects with firearms.
The problem is whether it stops tRump, helps thrusTED, or simply helps finance the super-PAC vampire media infrastructure (see Jeb! spending in the Iowa GOP primary caucuses).
Gosh-forbid that special interests should feed at the government teat — private money should support private interests! Count Chris Chocola needs to feed on a smaller foot!
The Club for Growth PAC has never previously endorsed in a presidential race.
“This year is different,” McIntosh said, "because there is a vast gulf between the two leading Republican candidates on matters of economic liberty. Their records make clear that Ted Cruz is a consistent conservative who will fight to shrink the federal footprint, while Donald Trump would seek to remake government in his desired image."
The Club for Growth backed Cruz in his 2012 Senate race, spending millions to help him win a contested GOP primary in Texas. But in 2016 the conservative group had been torn between Cruz and Marco Rubio, another Club favorite. One week after Rubio dropped out, McIntosh declared it was time for “everyone in the conservative movement to join in this important campaign to elect Ted Cruz.”
In March 2016,Politico reported that the Club for Growth planned to deny congressional endorsements to any candidates who endorsed Donald Trump's presidential bid.[152]
The Club for Growth’s Super PAC, Club for Growth Action, has been particularly critical of Trump's candidacy, announcing a $1 million Iowa advertising buy against his campaign in September 2015. The Club for Growth Action was the first third-party group to spend significant sums against Donald Trump.[147] The Club for Growth announced a $1.5 million advertising buy in Florida in March 2016. The group's advertisements highlight Trump's support for liberal policies, such as a single-payer health insurance system and tax increases.[148][149][150][151]
U.S. congressional elections