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Ted Cruz Looks To Texas & His Path Forward

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DALLAS (CBS 11) — Even though Nevada is the next Republican battleground, Ted Cruz already has his eye on Texas and 13 other states for the March 1st primary.

"We are positioned to have a very strong night on Super Tuesday," Cruz said.

The Texas Senator said he can't wait to come home to the Lone Star State after finishing in a close third behind Marco Rubio in South Carolina. Donald Trump won big in the Palmetto State after receiving support from the state's evangelicals — a surprise to Cruz supporters like Kaye Goolsby, the national grassroots chair for Cruz.

"I don't understand because I think he's a very strong Christian man," Goolsby said.

But Goolsby remained upbeat. "I believe people will see he is the real person, the real deal that needs to take this country where it needs to go."

Now Cruz seeks to convince voters this is a two person race — one with a sharp contrast.

"They can choose to go with a dealmaker who has promised to cut some deals with Washington like Donald Trump is or they can choose to go with a proven consistent conservative, and I'm confident how Republican voters are going to resolve that choice," Cruz said.

But Rubio's campaign said after Cruz fell short, this a three person race.

Cruz discounted Rubio because of his previous support for the Gang of Eight bill, which would have given undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship if passed. "You can't beat Donald Trump from the left. You cannot beat Donald Trump with a candidate who supports amnesty," Cruz said. "It will not work. Republican primary voters will vote for Donald against any candidate on the left."

After the Nevada caucus Tuesday, Cruz and Rubio head to Texas Wednesday, and Trump, John Kasich and Ben Carson will join them in Houston Thursday for the next debate.

Follow Jack on Twitter: @cbs11jack

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