Texas Sen. Ted Cruz heaped praise on a Republican mega-donor in a piece included in the Time 100 list, calling Rebekah Mercer "a warrior and a patriot" who is passionate about "freedom and our nation."
In the magazine's "The 100 Most Influential People" section, Cruz — who lost the Republican presidential nomination to Donald Trump last summer — said Mercer understands what it takes for the Republican Party to win.
"She understands the populist frustration with the bipartisan corruption in Washington, and she is one of the strongest champions of draining the swamp," Cruz wrote.
"And she has helped fund upstart campaigns and underdog candidates, including my own Senate and presidential campaigns. When Donald Trump won the nomination, Bekah played a pivotal role in helping assemble the team and strategy that shocked the world in November."
Mercer runs the Make America Number 1 super PAC, and her father Robert, a hedge fund manager, is its largest donor. The organization backed Cruz's presidential bid and later supported Trump.
The New Yorker profiled Robert Mercer last month and explained how he played a large role in helping Trump win the presidential election.
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