Ron Paul, Ted Cruz speak at the Capitol Sunday – KVUE

AUSTIN — A large crowd greeted Republican presidential contender Ron Paul as the Tea Party Express landed at Texas’ Capitol Sunday.

Paul was joined by his son, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Ted Cruz.

While Paul was the star of the show, Cruz was the one hoping to pick up some support at the rally. In a fierce battle with Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, the front runner, Cruz has earned endorsements from a number of Tea Party groups, including the Tea Party Express.

“Ron Paul and Rand Paul have been clarion voices of liberty for many, many years, and fundamentally the Republican party lost its way,” Cruz said. “In 2006 and 2008 far too many Republicans were going hand-in-hand with the Democrats in growing the size of government, the power of government. “It’s how we’ve gotten a $16 trillion national debt, because you haven’t had leaders in Washington willing to stand up and say, ‘no.’”

Cruz and Paul have both discussed a list of agencies they’d do away with, including education and commerce. 

Cruz said as senator, he’d co-sponsor a bill introduced by Paul to audit the Federal Reserve System.