Getty Paul and Cruz squabble over Nevada assemblyman endorsement

An obscure local Nevada politician briefly became the subject of a minor scuffle between two presidential campaigns on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, Sen. Rand Paul's campaign rolled out a set of endorsements, including one by Nevada Assemblyman John Moore. There was just one catch: Moore's name had already been listed on the leadership team for Sen. Ted Cruz.


Moore told POLITICO that he had been courted by both campaigns and had positive things to say about both candidates, but that in the end he supported Paul and had previously endorsed the Kentucky Republican. He also said he had been aware that he was still listed on Cruz's Nevada leadership team, which was announced Sept. 18, but hadn't told the Texas senator's campaign to take him off its list.

"If it comes down to an endorsement, sure I'll endorse Rand Paul, because that's where I started, and I allowed them to use some quotes earlier in the cycle," Moore said.

In an email, Paul's Nevada state director, Dave Ramirez, charged that Cruz's campaign had "used Assemblyman Moore's name without his consent" and that Moore "believes Sen. Paul is the best candidate to fight for liberty, grow the party, and to take back the White House — which is why he has publicly endorsed Rand Paul for president."

The Cruz campaign, however, pointed to a tweet from Moore in September suggesting that he had aligned himself with Cruz's leadership team:

"We are very proud of the coalition of committed conservatives we have built in Nevada and look forward to filling the vacancy with a respected, conservative leader who will steadfastly promote Sen. Cruz's positive, optimistic vision for the future of our country," a Cruz aide said in a statement. The aide also said it was "simply not true" that the campaign was using Moore's name without his permission.

Moore chalked up the confusion to his relative inexperience.

"This is my first cycle in politics. I don't understand the whole endorsing, leadership team [thing]. To me a leadership team means I'm out there doing something, I'm actively running around saying 'here's my guy' and they're giving me guidance or whatever," Moore said. "Versus me just saying 'I endorse that guy, that's who I'm probably going to vote for.'"

As for his status now?

"As far as I'm concerned I'm noton anyone's leadership team," Moore said. "Because Paul's people have not said we want you on the leadership team or anything of that nature."