Ted Cruz Completes Southern State Sweep In Oklahoma

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is wrapping up a sweep through several southern states with campaign stops in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

The Republican presidential hopeful held a rally during a lunch event Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma City. During that rally, Cruz said to the crowd that "Oklahoma is going to be vital in this GOP race for President." 

Cruz will host campaign events at 4 p.m. in Bartlesville with U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Tulsa and then at 7 p.m. with a rally in Tulsa.

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Cruz began his latest bus tour in South Carolina and proceeded with stops in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas.

Republican campaign strategists say Cruz's message resonates in Oklahoma, a state with several major big-money GOP donors and a reputation as one of the reddest in the country.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania won Oklahoma's GOP presidential primary in 2012.

We'll have complete coverage of Sen. Cruz's visit to Oklahoma on News 9 and on News9.com throughout the day.