Cruz, Rubio to hold rallies in Florence on Monday

GOP presidential candidates Ted Cruz, a Texas senator, and Marco Rubio, a Florida senator, will be in Florence on Monday to campaign ahead of the Republican primary.

Rubio is scheduled to appear at the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center at 1 p.m., according to university officials. Doors to the Rubio event open at noon.

According to the Cruz campaign, his event will be held at 6 p.m. at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology on the campus of Florence-Darlington Technical College. Doors to the Cruz event open at 5 p.m.

Both rallies are free to the public.

Those who want to attend the Cruz event are asked to make reservations prior to the event. Reservations for the Cruz rally can be made at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/florence-sc-ted-cruz-rally-tickets-21534169280?aff=ebapi.

The Rubio campaign had not posted ticket or reservation information at the press time.

Cruz finished first in the Iowa caucuses and third in the New Hampshire primary. He has been campaigning heavily in South Carolina since his third-place finish.

Rubio finished third in Iowa and fifth in New Hampshire.

A straw poll conducted at the latest Florence County GOP meeting showed Cruz on top with nearly 35 percent of participants’ support and Rubio in second with nearly 24 percent. New York businessman Donald Trump finished third with just over 15 percent.

Many of the remaining GOP candidates have already visited Florence, and officials say there is a good chance that more will visit before next Saturday’s primaries.