Ted Cruz Calls President Obama 'The Biggest Obstacle' To Immigration Reform [VIDEO]

After a long-fought battle, the heavily contested and amended "Gang of Eight" bipartisan bill is finally coming before the Senate floor sooner than July 4.

The fight is still not over, however, as opposers of the bill continue to scathingly criticize its perameters. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tx., said Monday that the failings of this bill and others like it are not the heated opposition from either side of the platform. Cruz, a known critic of the legislation, told The Fine Print that he and his supporters are not the downfall of immigration reform. That, he said, is the fault of President Barack Obama.

"The biggest obstacle to passing common sense immigration reform is President Barack Obama," he said in a interview where he also criticized the administration's unwavering support of a path to citizenship. "The path the White House is going down, I believe, is designed for this bill to fail. It is designed for it to sail through the Senate and then crash in the House to let the president go and campaign in 2014 on this issue."

RELATED: House 'Gang Of Eight' Reach Deal On Immigration Bill; Path To Citizenship Proposed Would Take Two Years Longer Than Senate Bill
RELATED: Immigration Reform News: Gang Of Eight Bill Ready And House 'Gang' Preparing Own Bill; When Will Immigration Reform Pass?
RELATED: Is 'Gang Of Eight' Breaking Up? House GOP Members Threaten To Quit Talks Before Immigration Bill Deal Is Reached

The Republican Party has been notably split by the bill, with its 2014 and 2016 election hopes on the line. Other Republican leaders have openly criticized staunch adversaries, such as John McCain, R-Ariz., an author of the bill, who called Cruz a "wacko bird" for attacking the bill's plan for a route to citizenship. Cruz defended his stance by saying that citizenship plans are splitting parties, noting that he was "proud" of his newfound reputation, Yahoo News reported.

"A path to citizenship is the most divisive aspect of this bill and the White House is insisting on it," Cruz said. "If standing for liberty, if standing for free market principle and the Constitution makes you a wacko bird, then, then I am a very proud wacko bird."

Cruz told reporters that he does not intend to compromise on the viewpoint regarding citizenship. Among other groups that have fiercly criticized the bill is the Heritage Foundation, which produced a controversial studying claiming that the new bill would cost taxpayers $6 trillion in the long haul. Meanwhile, Republicans are trying to win favorability among Latino voters, with leaders like Karl Rove pushing $10,000 in advertisements encouraging a support for reform.

In a cloture vote for the bill that took place Tuesday, it passed its first test, winning a vote of 82-15.