He’s being touted as the Marco Rubio of Texas, an up-and-coming Latino politician with solid Tea Party backing.

Ted Cruz, 41, who grew up in Houston as the son of Cuban refugees, knows he’s at the cusp of a major political breakthrough. He’s in a close race to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison as the next U.S. senator from Texas.

As the keynote speaker at a Tea Party Express national bus tour stop in San Antonio earlier this month, Cruz knew just how to quench his audience’s political thirst.

“And when we win this race, I give you my solemn word: Texas will lead the fight to take our country back,” he concluded as the crowd of around 200 people exploded with clapping and chanting.

This Senate seat is a lock for the GOP, so the real race is seen as the party’s primary since the winner is expected to easily defeat the Democratic nominee.

Cruz has consistently polled second to current Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, who has the backing of the state’s GOP machinery, including long-time governor Rick Perry.

But even second-place status has come as a surprise to many political experts, since Cruz has essentially skyrocketed from political obscurity — he has not previously held elected office and has little money.

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