Ted Cruz Spins Shutdown as a Success Steve Pope / Getty Images U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks at the annual Ronald Reagan Commemorative Dinner on, October 25, 2013 in Des Moines, Iowa Texas Senator Ted Cruz argued to powerful Iowa Republicans on Friday and that the partial government shutdown was a triumph because it got people talking, despite the fact that it ended in a compromise that funded the healthcare law he vowed to block. "We elevated the national debate over what a disaster, what a train wreck, how much Obamacare is hurting millions of Americans across the country," Cruz told around 600 Iowa Republicans at the state GOP's annual fund raising dinner. It was unclear whether Cruz intended to continue his crusade to defund the healthcare law. "There will be plenty of time the coming months to talk about specific tactics and strategies," he told the Associated Press.