Washington (CNN)Josh Perry is a lanky, 26-year-old from Nederland, Texas with a good job on Capitol Hill and a healthy adoration for Taylor Swift. And every day, he pretends to be Ted Cruz on the Internet. As Cruz's in-house digital strategist, it is Perry's job to channel the freshman senator online, engage activists on Twitter and Facebook and promote Cruz's media appearances and speeches. In just a few years, Cruz has gone from working as the state Solicitor General and as a corporate attorney to become one of the most talked-about politicians on the Web. Cruz began traveling to Iowa and New Hampshire in 2013—and his many conservative fans are eager to see him run for president.
@highlight
26-year-old Josh Perry is the person Ted Cruz trusts most to speak for him online.
@highlight
Cruz is a possible contender for president in 2016, and the most talked-about politicians on the Web.
Josh Perry
Perry
Josh Perry
"@placeholder understands his voice and understands what he would want to promote."
Texas
That cohesion between Cruz and Perry dates back to the countless hours the duo spent alone together crisscrossing @placeholder during the campaign.
Ted Cruz
Cruz
Cruz
Cruz
Cruz
Ted Cruz
Cruz
Perry accompanied @placeholder to scores of events and quickly memorized every line of Cruz's old speeches.
Washington
That approach, however, has left Cruz with a list of enemies in @placeholder, where some in his own party sees him as a rabble-rouser and an ideologue who refuses to compromise.
Texas
"If you're from @placeholder, that's the right thing to do.
Josh Perry
Perry
Josh Perry
"@placeholder has always worked incredibly hard and he has done a great job of remembering the importance of engagement when it comes to social," Harris said.
Josh Perry
Perry
Josh Perry
Not knowing that his boss would remain on the floor for such a long time, @placeholder manned the Twitter feed through the night.
Twitter
Not knowing that his boss would remain on the floor for such a long time, Perry manned the @placeholder feed through the night.
Josh Perry
Perry
Josh Perry
@placeholder is an obsessive Taylor Swift fan—and yes, this began before she branched out from the country music scene, he'll have you know—and he uses every opportunity he can to incorporate her into his work.
Taylor Swift
Colleagues say he even logs into @placeholder fan message boards, and his personal Twitter page is full of Swift music videos, GIFs and photos.
Taylor Swift
Colleagues say he even logs into Taylor Swift fan message boards, and his personal Twitter page is full of @placeholder music videos, GIFs and photos.