Defends gay marriage views, criticizes Clinton

While meeting with local leaders Cruz defends his views on same-sex marriage, saying he does not think his opposition to gay marriage will hurt his chances with moderate voters.

Is there something about the left — and I am going to put the media in this category — that is obsessed with sex? ISIS is executing homosexuals — you want to talk about gay rights? This week was a very bad week for gay rights because the expansion of ISIS, the expansion of radical, theocratic, Islamic zealots that crucify Christians, that behead children and that murder homosexuals — that ought to be concerning you far more than asking six questions all on the same topic.

On Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal e-mail while she was the secretary of state.

Unfortunately this pattern of deception is what we’ve come to expect from the Clintons. I think what’s most surprising is how unsurprising this is.

Cruz again declined to say whether he would participate in the Iowa Straw Poll.

I am spending a great deal of time in Iowa, and I intend to spend a great deal of time in Iowa and participate vigorously in the Iowa caucus. A number of candidates and a number of campaigns are making decisions on the straw poll right now and we’re certainly making those decisions at the same time.