Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was the only featured guest at a New York Republican Party dinner Wednesday night, which a spokesman said raised nearly $750,000. During his 35-minute speech that roused a crowd of high-profile New York Republicans, it couldn't have been clearer where the GOP's rising star from Texas wanted to move — away from the divisive rhetoric of a failed 2012 for Republicans and onto a path that could set them up for success in 2014 and 2016. His speech served as a direct rebuke to the campaign of 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney. It will only further chatter about his future ambitions, including a potential 2016 run for president. "I am going to suggest that the last election can be explained in two words: 47 percent," Cruz said, referencing Romney's infamous speech to donors at a fundraiser last year. At this fundraiser, Cruz took a profound shot at Romney's narrative. "I think Mitt Romney's a good and decent man, and he ran a very hard campaign. But what I mean is the narrative of the last election. The narrative of the last election was, 'The 47 percent of Americans who are not paying income taxes, who in some way are dependent upon government. We don't have to worry about them.' That's what was communicated in the last election. "I have to tell you, as a conservative, I cannot think of an idea more opposite to what we believe. I think Republicans are and should be the party of the 47 percent." It was a message, a Cruz aide later said, that needs to be communicated to the party a lot more — a party that embraced and, in some ways, fueled the fire of Romney's remarks.
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