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Sen. Ted Cruz speaks at Indiana GOP dinner

Posted at 7:14 PM, Apr 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-21 23:52:16-04

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- More than 100 people came out Thursday to see Republican presidential candidate and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz during his first visit of the campaign to Indiana.

Before a private event on the south side of Indianapolis, Cruz stopped in at Shapiro's Delicatessen downtown.

Dave Frye of Indianapolis said he has hoped Cruz wins his party's nomination since he announced his candidacy more than a year ago. The 44-year-old insurance broker said GOP front-runner Donald Trump has distorted the national conversation and that Cruz was a staunch constitutionalist.

Twenty-five-year-old Katie Conley of Indianapolis said she supports Cruz because of his focus on family and his anti-abortion stance.

Cruz's visit came nearly two weeks before Indiana voters cast their ballots in the state primaries. Indiana is expected to be pivotal in this year's presidential race despite being late in the election season.

The Texas senator was in Indiana Thursday to speak at the Indiana GOP 2016 Spring Dinner.

RTV6 Statehouse Reporter Katie Heinz spoke with Cruz one-on-one before the GOP dinner. Watch their interview, and Cruz's full speech, in the video player above.

Before the dinner, Cruz met privately with Gov. Mike Pence.

Pence said after their meeting that he wasn't committing yet to an endorsement for any presidential candidate.

"I haven't ruled out weighing in if I feel strongly about it," Pence said. "But look, I am absolutely committed to the Republican nominee for President of the United States, and I will be campaigning for our candidate, for our ticket, all across the state of Indiana and wherever they want me this fall, because Indiana needs a partner."

Cruz says 2016 will be a victory for the grassroots movement against Washington. 

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