Yes, as expected, the keynote speaker at the Miami-Dade Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner in a couple of weeks is a Cuban-American senator. 
But it’s not that Cuban-American Senator.
The big money draw for the June 20 event will be Sen. Ted Cruz from Texas, known as “the other Cuban senator” in these parts.
The party had already asked local favorite, Sen. Marco Rubio, and folks were really set on him coming and announcing his presidential bid (as if; maybe next year). But the timing was bad. Rubio, apparently, was only available this weekend, which is when Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has his mayor’s ball, a fundraiser for his charities — and an opportunity to have people kiss his ring (more on that later). The two fetes draw many of the same donors, said Miami GOP Chairman Nelson Diaz, who didn’t want to have to compete.
They looked for a date in July, but he feared that would be too late to be asking for money. And when they heard back from Cruz, that he would be available, they moved it to accommodate him on the 20th for the dinner and dance at the Miami Airport Hilton.
Diaz told Ladra they got confirmation he would come on Tuesday.
And let’s face it: That is a coup. Cruz is actually one of the hottest political tickets right now, a good leading man of the moment, certain to rake in a record number of ticket sales and draw some major media attention. We get to see Marquito all the time. This is a rare chance at a selfie with a rising star in national Republican politics. Y es Latino. That’s just espumita.
Cruz was born to a Cuban father and a Canadian mother in Canada. He won his seat in Texas in a fiery campaign in 2012 that drew national attention and quickly became the poster child candidate for the Tea Party.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m embracing the Tea Party,” said Diaz when Ladra asked him. “He’s different. He’s somewhere in between the Ron Paul crowd and the conservatives.
“He’s a good speaker, he represents good, conservative values. There is a variety to being Republican,” Diaz said. “It’s a big tent.”
That tent includes last year’s top billing, House Speaker Will Weatherford, and Rubio, of course, who was the keynote speaker in 2011.
Somehow Ladra senses Rubio doesn’t mind that he’d get swapped out for the other Cuban senator. As long as Cruz remains the “other.”
Ted Cruz stars in big GOP Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser added by Ladra on
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