Update: Ted Cruz to appear at Crane rally in Newnan

Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz will fully insert himself in the Georgia Third Congressional District Race this week when he makes a campaign appearance for candidate Mike Crane.

Cruz, who has previously endorsed Crane, a state senator, in his Republican runoff against former West Point Mayor Drew Ferguson, will appear at a “Rally for Freedom” in Newnan on Friday.

“I’m proud to join thousands of Georgia conservatives in standing up for conservative principles supporting Mike Crane for Congress,” Cruz said in a recent statement supporting Crane. “…I can think of no better way to send the Washington establishment a message than by supporting Mike Crane for Congress…I’m asking all Georgians — especially voters in the Third Congressional District – to stand with me in supporting Mike Crane.”

The Third District stretches from Metro Atlanta to north Columbus. Early voting in the race is ongoing with election day set for Tuesday.

The Georgia Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement saying they exploring the possibility of doing an event outside the Crane campaign event on Friday. The FOP has been vocal in its opposition to Crane because of remarks the candidate made to a Coweta County Republican group in February.

“When the judge comes along and says you can kick down that man’s door, you can throw a flash grenade in that baby’s crib, you can do whatever you want and kill a lady that comes to the door because she’s afraid someone has entered her house illegally,” Crane said, according to a report in the Newnan Times Herald. “If you come to my house, kick down my door, if I have an opportunity I will shoot you dead. And everyone of you should do the same.”

Crane has said his remarks were aimed at the judicial overreach on no-knock search warrants.

“We are very disappointed that Senator Cruz would support Mr. Crane at a time when the men and women of Law Enforcement are being murdered at a rate that is 100 percent greater than last year at this time,” said Randy Robertson, vice president of the Georgia FOP. “With the recent events in Dallas, Texas, I find it sad that Senator Cruz would allow himself to be pulled into the political cesspool by a candidate who has openly promoted shooting law enforcement officers.”

Robertson is a retired Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office major.

The rally with the former presidential candidate starts at 6 p.m. at Newnan Centre on Lower Fayetteville Road.

This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 9:13 AM with the headline "Update: Ted Cruz to appear at Crane rally in Newnan."