Pro-Cruz PAC hits Allred ahead of Democratic Senate primary

A super PAC supporting Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R ) is slamming Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) in a new video released hours before polls close in the state’s Democratic Senate primary on Super Tuesday. 

The Hill was the first outlet to view the web ad, released by the pro-Cruz Truth and Courage PAC. 

The over-one-minute-long spot accuses Allred of being Democrats’ “most radical recruit” and of being “too radical for Texas,” citing a number of issues including crime, immigration, health care, abortion and education. 

The ad indicates that Cruz’s allies are preparing for the incumbent GOP senator to face Allred in November’s general election. Allred is facing off against Texas state Sen. Roland Guterriez for the Democratic Senate nomination on Tuesday. Allred has led Gutierrez in fundraising and polling in the run-up to the primary. 

A University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs poll released last month found Allred leading Gutierrez 40 percent to 12 percent among likely Democratic primary voters. The other Democratic contenders running in the primary were unable to break four percent in the poll. In January, Allred’s campaign announced it raised $4.8 million in the fourth quarter of last year.

The same fundraising reports filed during the period found that Allred led Cruz in cash on hand. However, Cruz leads Allred and Gutierrez in head-to-head polling matchups.

The same University of Houston poll released last month showed Cruz beating Allred by nine points and Gutierrez by ten points.

The Cook Political Report rates the Texas Senate race as “likely Republican.”