last night, he thanked the people who made it possible, conservative talk radio, billionaire advocacy groups and the certain half-term governor. >> i want to thank the national leaders who have stepped forward, first and foremost, governor sarah palin. >> sarah palin used the occasion to address the masses in the way she knows best. she wrote on her facebook page, this is a victory both for ted and for the grassroots tea party movement. so who was cruz's opponent? some screaming liberal? some neophyte? actually, it was the lieutenant governor, republican david dewhurst. a man by the laws of the state the most powerful political figure in texas. his four-point election platform called for the repeal of obama care, eliminating the power of the epa and national labor relations board and rejecting green energy initiatives. this is hardly a socialist agenda. but cruz was backed by the big money parties like freedom