A good crowd gathered outside the entrance to the Forum Theatre in Binghamton prior to the arrival of Presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz. About an hour before guests were allowed inside, the line stretched around E. Clinton Street. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
Senator Fred Akshar talks to guests prior to the Town Hall event on April 15.
Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity chats with the crowd prior to the start of the Town Hall event on April 15.
Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz looks out to the audience at the Forum Theatre, and listens to supporters in between breaks of taping of the Fox News show on April 15.
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, fields questions from Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity.
Presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, fields questions from Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity.
Young people from Ross Corners Christian Academy located in Vestal, N.Y. attended the Ted Cruz Town Hall in Binghamton on April 15.
Owego, N.Y. resident Jacqueline Hawkins attended the Ted Cruz town hall event in Binghamton on April 15.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz, of Texas, the second presidential candidate to visit the southern tier this week, participated in a Q&A session on Friday, April 15 with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity at The Forum Theatre in Binghamton, N.Y. The visit came just days before the New York primary scheduled on April 19.
Candidates from both parties have been busy touring and making stops in New York ahead of the primary. On Monday, Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, drew an audience numbering about 5,000 at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton. Former president Bill Clinton is scheduled to be at Binghamton University on Saturday, and his daughter, Chelsea, is reported to be appearing in Binghamton on Sunday, April 17, both to campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
The Forum Theatre, a much more intimate setting, seats just over 1,500 and filled quickly for the town hall style event which started approximately 11:15 a.m. and concluded in just over one hour. In order to attend the event, guests were required to register on-line for a ticket.
The taped show, “Hannity,” will be aired on the Fox News Channel; the first is airing tonight at 10 p.m.
During a warm-up before taping began, Hannity encouraged the audience to participate, be loud and clap, and said, “There are no rules for the broadcast.”
One of the first topics of discussion at the Q&A event, related to jobs, sparked Hannity to relate a feeling close to home, “The Binghamton area has been suffering economically for decades.” Hannity then asked Cruz to comment about his thoughts on job growth.
Cruz gave an example of job growth, referring to the neighboring state of Pennsylvania, which has allowed fracking.
“Knuckle-headed politicians in New York have not supported the development of the Marcellus Shale,” Cruz shared, which received overwhelming applause from the audience.
Cruz responded that his number one priority is to bring back to the country good, high-paying jobs, and pointed out, “The key to our economy comes from small business.”
While discussing the subject of taxes, Cruz shared his simple flat tax plan, which he explained would tax income at the rate of 10 percent, and for a family of four, the first $36,000 would be tax free. For businesses, Cruz explained that he would institute a 16 percent flat tax.
Cruz shared that if his tax plan is implemented, it would in turn bring jobs back, including in New York.
Cruz commented, “This is what people care about, how do we bring jobs back,” and he added, “Jobs will come back from Mexico and China.”
Other topics of discussion during the Q&A included Cruz’s stance on repealing “Obamacare,” and his views on national security, terrorism and the Middle East, among others.
The Q&A session offered the opportunity for a few audience members to ask questions of Cruz.
One audience member commented, “A fifth grade class from Chenango Bridge, N.Y. would like to know your thoughts on education.”
Cruz replied, “Parents and teachers know what our kids need, and on my first day in office, common core ends that day.”
Cruz explained further that it is his position to give states the right to choose and that he plans to change up the Federal Department of Education.
While waiting in line outside The Forum Theatre prior to the event, Alex Dean of Newark Valley, N.Y. shared the reasons he is supporting Senator Ted Cruz.
Dean explained, “I believe Senator Cruz upholds the Constitution and presents conservative principles,” and he added, if it comes down to a contested convention, that Cruz, “Has a chance in the end.”
Republican front-runner, Donald Trump, currently leads the race with total delegates and currently shows more favorable numbers in polls. As of this writing and according to gop.com, the RNC’s presidential primary estimated delegate count shows Trump leading Cruz, 755 versus 521; 1,237 delegates are needed to win the nomination.
Following the conclusion of the town hall meeting, Senator Cruz left his interview seat and sat along the edge of the stage, where he shook hands with supporters and also signed books, posters and other items that supporters brought along to the event.
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- A supporter of presidential candidate Ted Cruz holds up a sign during a Town Hall event held on April 15 in Binghamton.
