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Imagine Texas as a blue state: how hard it would be to carry the presidency or gain control of the Senate.

From the political angle, I'm trying to be apolitical if you will. I mean people say, 'Are you a red state or blue state?', I say, 'I'm purple.' I think there are great ideas on both sides of the aisle and neither side has cornered the market.

In Texas, conservative policies win over stabbing fellow Republicans in the back.

There are conservative people in all colours in America.

Despite the obvious benefits, many Americans do not like Texas. Some even say they despise Texas, and make no secret of their feelings.

Texas is now a cornerstone of the electoral college for Republicans.

I've definitely seen that Texas is certainly a right-wing area politically. I think if you talk to the average Texan, some people may still think that alternative energy is some sort of hippie mumbo-jumbo, you know. I think there's still a strong movement to continue to drill and continue to find these other sources of oil within the country.

The Tea Party definitely scored a significant victory with Senator Cruz's election in 2012 and scored victories in some statewide primaries. But to me, as the Tea Party gets stronger within the Republican Party in Texas, the prospect of a blue Texas becomes stronger and stronger.

It's always an uphill battle. You know, I'm a Republican in Maryland. This is the bluest of the blue.

We want Iowa to remain red. We have worked so hard to get here. We will not be a purple state: we will be a red state.