Ted Cruz has gone from underdog insurgent to prohibitive favorite in Texas' U.S. Senate race.

And now the Republican tea party darling is busy reconciling with a state GOP establishment he long bashed as too moderate.

Cruz became a national symbol of grassroots might in July, when he upset Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Dewhurst had been backed by the Texas GOP mainstream in the Republican senatorial primary.

Lately though, Cruz has appeared at fundraisers with Dewhurst and other state GOP heavy hitters.

Grassroots and limited government groups say they don't begrudge Cruz mending fences within the party. And Cruz insists he's still a political insurgent.

No matter what happens, Cruz is expected to easily beat Democrat Paul Sadler in the general election to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.