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Sen. Ted Cruz's presidential campaign is asking top allies to collect at least $500,000 each from their circle of friends and colleagues and is promising those elite fundraisers coveted access.

The Texas Republican's finance team says the best fundraisers will be invited to a donor retreat and a quarterly dinner at the home of Ted and Heidi Cruz. Those supporters will be called the campaign's Founders.

Other levels inside Cruz's campaign hierarchy include Statesmen ($250,000), Generals ($100,000) and Federalists ($50,000), according to a fundraising document obtained by The Associated Press.

With each escalating pledge to raise cash comes more perks, including increased access to the candidate and his inner circle of advisers.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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