At soapbox, Cruz asks voters to look ahead

Republican Ted Cruz asked Iowans on Friday to have faith that the next president will bring the nation out of the malaise he says the current administration has spread throughout the U.S.

"I'm here to bring you a word of hope and encouragement and optimism ... all across the country Americans are waking up and help is on the way. So, I ask everyone here to look forward. Look forward to January 2017," the U.S. senator from Texas said at the Iowa State Fair.

During a stop at The Des Moines Register's Political Soapbox, Cruz took a few minutes to swipe at Democrats before jumping into his usual stump speech.

"Now the Democratic field consists of a wild-eyed socialist with ideas that are dangerous for America and the world, and Bernie Sanders," Cruz said, referencing Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

Cruz laid out a busy first day in office should voters elect him to the White House in 2016. The presidential hopeful said his agenda includes instructing the Department of Justice to investigate Planned Parenthood, rescind every "illegal action" by President Barack Obama and "rip to shreds this catastrophic Iranian nuclear deal."

Following his first day, Cruz said he would work to repeal Obamacare, instruct Congress to adopt a flat tax, secure the U.S.-Mexico border and abolish the IRS.

"There are 365 days a year, four years in a presidential term and four years in a second term. By the end of eight years, they're going to be an awful lot of newspaper editors, reporters and journalists who check themselves into therapy," Cruz joked.

RELATED: Actress, activist Ellen Page confronts Cruz at State Fair

Part of Cruz's speech Friday included one of his often-repeated criticisms of the Obama administration, connecting it to the administration of former president Jimmy Carter.

"I think the parallels between this administration and the Carter administration are uncanny," Cruz said. "Same failed domestic policy, same misery, stagnation and malaise. Same feckless and naïve foreign policy. "

The speech came a day after Carter announced he is fighting cancer that has spread to his brain. When asked if he was worried about timing of his comments, Cruz said he was making a statement about policy.

"Let's be clear. We can always have a discussion about public policy. The public policy of the late 1970s, didn't work," Cruz said in an interview with the Register.

At the Soapbox

Quote: "I'll tell you the single biggest difference between me and the other fine gentlemen standing on that debate stage in Cleveland. With me, when I tell you I'm going to do something, I'm going to do exactly what I said I would do."

Crowd: The crowd was roughly 15 rows deep, extending into the fairgrounds' Grand Concourse. Cruz's speech had an engaged response from the crowd, earning him multiple rounds of applause and shouts of agreement.

Other stops at the fair: Cruz made his way to the Iowa Pork Producers tent to cook pork chops, greeting supporters and talking with reporters along the way. Afterward, he mulled around the tent, shaking hands and talking with fairgoers and potential voters.

Up next: The Cruz campaign is holding a "Rally for Religious Liberty" in downtown Des Moines Friday evening.

Cruz: I'm not interested in being vice president

Earlier this week, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump suggested he was looking at Ted Cruz and Ben Carson as potential picks for vice president.

Asked Friday whether he would accept such a position from Trump, Cruz said he's focused on winning the Republican nomination.

"I am not interested in being vice president. I am running to win this nomination," Cruz told The Des Moines Register in an interview.

Cruz later said it was too early for him to speculate on potential vice presidential picks if he wins the nomination.

"It's a little bit like going out on a first date with a woman and sitting down and saying, 'these are the names I want to name our kids,' " Cruz said. "Let's focus on hopefully winning the Iowa caucus, winning some primaries, winning the nomination and then I'll focus on who the vice presidential nomination will be."

No jewelry for Cruz at the grill

While flipping pork chops at the Iowa State Fair, Ted Cruz took off his wedding ring, FitBit and other jewelery, handing them to an aide.

Cruz said he removed them to avoid getting grease on his watch and rings.

Upholding marriage as a ceremony between one man and one woman has been a consistent talking point for Cruz during his campaign. When asked if he was worried about the image of him taking off his ring, Cruz said: "No. Not at the barbecue grill."

"Look, if I were walking into the discotheque at night, that would be a little bit different than just not wanting to dribble pork grease on my ring and watch."