Cruz, Bush campaign along Grand Strand 10 days before the presidential primary

With 10 days left until the presidential primary in South Carolina, two Republican contenders stopped along the Grand Strand for final stump speeches to reach those last few undecided voters.

After Ted Cruz wrapped up his campaign stop Wednesday, John Leach couldn’t help but notice the symbolism of the venue where the Texas senator spoke.

“See where this is?” the Myrtle Beach man asked. “It says, ‘Ground Zero.’ If he wins South Carolina, this is key.”

With Iowa and New Hampshire in the books, the presidential candidates turned their focus to the Palmetto State on Wednesday. Cruz addressed more than 250 at Ground Zero, a Christian club on Chester Street.

“Iowa and New Hampshire have performed their historic role,” said Cruz, who won Iowa and finished third in New Hampshire. “They’re narrowing the choices. And now it’s up to South Carolina to pick the president.”

During his nearly half-hour speech, Cruz touched on a familiar wish list: repealing the Affordable Care Act, having the U.S. Department of Justice investigate Planned Parenthood, ending the Iran nuclear deal, rebuilding the military and defending religious liberty.

He also compared his down home credentials with those of residents in the Palmetto State, where primary voters will go to the polls on Feb. 20.

“Texas and South Carolina, we share so much in common,” he said. “Both states are Southern states. We’re gun owners, military veterans and love God. And we’re fed up with the disaster that is Washington D.C.”

Cruz compared the current political climate to the late 1970s.

“Why is it that that analogy gives me so much hope?” he said. “Because we remember how that story ended. All across this country millions of men and women rose up and became the Reagan revolution. … There is an awakening that is sweeping this country.”

Cruz repeated the message that’s become central to his campaign: He’s an outsider who’s loathed by mainstream Republican politicians because he’s more conservative than they are.

That theme resonated with the crowd, which frequently rewarded him with applause.

“Cruz was my man from Day 1,” said MaryAnn Carnazza of Longs. “He’s got very high integrity and he’s honest. … Coming out of Washington, that’s a rare find.”

For Carnazza, Wednesday’s event was the third time she’d heard Cruz speak. She also attended two lunches with his father, Rafael. With her Cruz T-shirt, sticker and “Choose Cruz” sign, her choice for president was obvious.

“He’s the only conservative running,” she said.

Marilyn Leach of Myrtle Beach wasn’t sold yet. She said she was still making up her mind, though she did like Cruz’s speech.

“It was wonderful,” she said. “It’s time for a change. … It was refreshing.”

Her husband, John, said he’s narrowed his options to Cruz or retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. If Carson’s campaign doesn’t begin gaining steam, Cruz will be his choice.

One selling point for Cruz, he said, is the senator’s steadfast conservatism.

“He’s been through the fire and he’s been tested,” he said. “He has a record that shows he follows through with what he says.”

Republican contender Jeb Bush told a packed VFW post in Murrells Inlet Wednesday night his plans to reform Obamacare, repeal Common Core and improve veterans’ affairs.

The former Florida governor was introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham, who didn’t dismiss the idea of a cabinet post if he was offered one and “thought it was best” for his country, he told a man who asked.

Bush stepped into the crowded VFW Post 10420, where more than 300 people assembled around 7 p.m. from an adjoining church next door, with a cross traced on his forehead in ashes for Ash Wednesday.

“Here’s my pledge to you: As president of the United States, the first chance I have if there is a problem, I will accept responsibility from day 1. If it happens on my watch, it’ll be my bad and I will begin to solve the problem,” Bush told the crowd. “We need a president who accepts personal responsibility and is held to account again. We need a president that has a servant’s heart. We need a president who has organized his life to be able to fix the problems that exist. We need a president that understands that the greatness of this country is not a government on top of us, it is the American people that are right now being held back.”

Bush told the crowd that with his experience leading the state of Florida as its 43rd governor for eight years through trials and tribulations — like weathering eight hurricanes and four tropical storms in a span of 16 months — he is the man for the job.

He garnered applause as he said he would uphold the Constitution and was a fan of restoring state’s rights through limited federal oversight. And he encouraged the crowd to go to his website jeb2016.com to read more about his plans on handling some of the country’s biggest challenges.

“I liked what he had to say,” said Mary Ann Pilotte. “I like the personal experience he gave to back up all his answers. I thought that was really very touching. … I see a man who really cares about his country and his constituents.

“I was very impressed. He seems very sincere. I’ve liked him from the beginning,” said Audrey Wilson, outside the VFW.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Cruz, Bush campaign along Grand Strand 10 days before the presidential primary."