SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz told reporters he was thrilled by poll results showing him in second place just two days before the state’s caucuses.
The final Des Moines Register/Bloomberg poll showed Donald Trump leading Cruz by five percentage points, 28 percent to 23 percent. In December, Cruz led Trump 31 percent to 21 percent.
Cruz said he “could not be more encouraged” about his standing in the GOP presidential race, adding that the only thing that matters is voter turnout.
“If you’d have told me a year ago that two days out from the Iowa caucuses we would be neck-and-neck, effectively tied for first place in the state of Iowa, I would have been thrilled,” Cruz said. “Six weeks ago everyone in the Republican field was attacking Donald Trump. Now everyone in the field is attacking me.”
Cruz then attacked Trump, without prodding by reporters. Cruz had challenged Trump to a one-on-one debate in Sioux City on Saturday night, but the businessman never agreed. As a result, Cruz said he would maintain an empty chair in case Trump showed up late.
“I did invite Phil Robertson to join us to see if perhaps with a duck call he could call Donald to join us,” Cruz joked to reporters. “It would be nice to see Donald arrive and actually have a discussion about the issues and actually say something other than insults, other than personal attacks. Focus on the substantive issues.”
Cruz has spent much of the week seeking to capitalize on Trump’s decision to skip Thursday’s GOP presidential debate. Cruz is selling merchandise that demands, “Make Trump Debate Again” and calling out “Ducking Donald.”
Whether Cruz can thwart Trump’s momentum atop the polls of early nominating states will be determined when Iowans caucus on Monday.
