Cruz, Sadler gear up for second debate Friday

After their fiery first debate, U.S. Senate candidates Ted Cruz and Paul Sadler are gearing up for another match on Friday.

On Oct. 1, the candidates met in Dallas for a televised debate that included Democrat Sadler calling Republican Cruz “crazy” and “a troll.” The two frequently interrupted each other and argued over the moderators.

Now they meet in Dallas once again, at 7 p.m. on Dallas Public Broadcasting station KERA-TV. They are fighting for the seat in the U.S. Senate being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Cruz is new standout among conservatives and has the backing of the Tea Party Express and other well-funded groups. He reports that he has raised $3.5 million just between July and September.

Sadler is far behind, but saw his donations rise significantly in the last quarter. He reports that he raised around $359,000 for the same period. As of July 11, Sadler had only $132,000.

Overall, Cruz has raised about $11.8 million, compared to $497,392 raised by Sadler, evidence of the belief that a Democrat can't win a statewide office in "red state" Texas.

Sadler is a former Texas legislator, who served for six terms from 1991 to 2003. He served on the House Public Education Committee from 1993 – 2003 (serving as Chairman of the committee from 1995 – 2003.) According to his website, among his accomplishments as chairman include the re-write of the entire Education Code in 1995 (known as the “Ratliff-Sadler Act.)

Sadler served for four years, beginning in 20008, as the executive director of the Wind Coalition, a non-profit association designed to promote the responsible development of wind energy. He is also a trial attorney with a degree from Baylor Law School.

Cruz, the son of a Cuban immigrant, served as the Solicitor General of Texas, the chief lawyer for the State before the U.S. Supreme Court and all the state and federal appellate courts, from 2003 to 2008. According to his website, Cruz was the youngest Solicitor General in the nation, the longest serving Solicitor General in Texas and the first Hispanic Solicitor General in Texas.

He currently serves as a Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in Houston, where he leads the firm’s U.S. Supreme Court and national Appellate Litigation practice. In addition, from 2004-09, he taught U.S. Supreme Court Litigation as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Texas School of Law.

Endorsements for Cruz have come from National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund, Gun Owners of America, Recreational Fishing Alliance of Texas

Texas Municipal Police Association, Texas Wildlife Association, Tea Party Express, Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. Rick Santorum, radio host Sean Hannity, Sen. Rand Paul, Congressman Ron Paul, Dr. James Dobson, Phylis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum, Republican Liberty Caucus, Freedom Works PAC, Club for Growth PAC, Citizens United Political Victory Fund and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (The Southeast Texas Record is owned by the Institute for Legal Reform, an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Record does not endorse political candidates.)

For local coverage of Friday’s debate:

Watch: KBMT-TV 12.4 / Beaumont / www.12newsnow.com /LIVE on KUIL-TV 12.4
Listen: KROI-FM 92.1 / Houston / www.news92fm.com / LIVE