Senate antagonist Cruz makes nice with campaign fundraisers

Invitations sent to top Republicans and donors on Wednesday said Cruz is teaming up with fellow Texan and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn to host fundraisers in Houston and Dallas next month.

Ayotte, in particular, has been an outspoken Cruz critic, questioning the partial government shutdown Cruz helped spark in 2013 and criticizing him during a flap over funding for Planned Parenthood that nearly caused another shutdown two years later.

[...] the fundraisers suggest he's willing to help Republicans beyond his conservative activist base stay in the Senate — despite railing against establishment leaders in both parties.

David Polyansky, Cruz's chief of staff, said Cruz will allow fellow Senate Republicans to tap an extensive data network Cruz built while running for president as part of a "50-state campaign."

Polls since have suggested that Cruz's approval ratings have slipped back in his home state, where he is up for re-election in 2018 and could face a challenger in the Republican primary.