Posted on 12/23/2015 10:38:06 AM PST by conservativejoy
Ted Cruz is surging. He's taken the lead in Iowa, according to multiple polls, has tied Trump in South Carolina in one poll, and in another poll is only four points behind nationally (although he still lags nationally in other polls). But if Cruz wins Iowa and South Carolina, he is extremely likely to win the nomination, if past history holds.
So what can Trump do to win? He can try to increase his base of support, but the best move might be to try and take Cruz down.That's what Trump did when he attacked Jeb! for being low energy, that's what he did when he joked about Ben Carson stabbing people, and that's what he did with Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Linsey Graham, Rand Paul, and a few others.
But attacking Ted Cruz could be trickier. There are several lines of attack, none of them obviously beneficial:
1) To attack his qualifications to be president, as some in the tinfoil hat crowd do. But Trump himself has said that Cruz is qualified, so that probably won't work.
2) To attack Cruz from the left. Trump tried that when he attacked Cruz for not supporting ethanol subsidies, but Cruz was immediately defended by conservative talk radio, and the attack was seen to backfire on Trump.
3) To attack Cruz's personality. Trump tried this a bit by saying that Cruz was a "bit of a maniac" in the Senate, which was perceived as a statement of support for Cruz's nemesis, Mitch McConnell. That also backfired on Trump. In general it is hard to find grounds to criticize Cruz's personality. He is even-tempered, high energy, and more consistent on the issues than any other candidate.
4) To attack Cruz from the right. This is hard to do but not impossible. Rubio has tried it by claiming that when Cruz, in an effort to weaken Rubio's amnesty bill, supported an amendment to legalize illegals but deny them citizenship, Cruz was actually showing his support for illegal aliens. But not just conservative talk radio but Jeff Sessions and Mike Lee and other senators who were there came to Cruz's defense, noting he was trying to scuttle the whole amnesty bill.
There are grounds to attack Cruz from the right. He did vote for the terrible procedure which allowed Obama's Iran deal to avoid a 2/3 vote of the senate. He did initially vote to give Obama fast trade authority before voting against it. And he did previously support a vast expansion of H1-B visas (though he has since changed his tune on that). And of course, while he supports building a wall on the border and enforcing immigration law, he has not called for the kinds of mass deportations that Trump has.
So there is a way to attack Cruz from the right, if done carefully. Unfortunately, carefully is not Trump's strong suit. He is more likely to attack the way Cruz parts his hair or goes to the bathroom than his support for H1-B visas. But I think given the way that Cruz is surging that Trump will have to do something to try and counter him, or risk getting left behind.
He really can’t attack Cruz. I wish he would though. It can only hurt him.
For example, Trump is tougher on immigration than Cruz. Trump wants a 15% corporate tax rate while Cruz wants 16, etc.
Nope. He can’t really without manufacturing something, and shouldn’t. He’s doing fine by leaving Ted alone.
Why do you say that?
The real question is how much will Cruz depend on leftist media attacking Trump in order to win?
His strategy the whole time has been on Trump dispatching the other candidates leaving Cruz to avoid having to confront anyone.
Now that they are all almost gone, he will either have to attack Trump himself, or keep over on the side waiting for the press to find anything on Trump to “take him down”, or for maybe enough GOPers to vote for Cruz just because he isnt him.
In the end, Cruz’s support base is going to be a motley collection of people that were there from the start, didn’t originally support him (the weak support), people that just dont like Trump, or GOPers needing a candidate to hide behind in order to stop Trump wining the nomination.
I think Trump has Cruz right where he wants him.
It’s likely Cruz will continue to stay 15-20 points down from Trump and we’ll have the forming of a Trump/Cruz ticket.
It would make no sense to attack your future running mate.
If Trump goes after Cruz he gives Cruz the opportunity to prove himself the better candidate on every media outlet. It will make Trump look like he is not conservative and will not play nice with allies. Trump is better off bashing Hillary, Ryan, and McConnell and few pokes at Jeb is always good too.
Best to see how things shape up after the next debate. Iowa may go for Cruz because of his Christian Beliefs—But New Hampshire could go Trump or Christie. Best to attack Christie—the new flavor of the month to take down Trump. Both are brash—but Christie is tainted with rumors of Corruption and—is in many ways—a RINO. Trump should focus on Hillary and her many defects.
When it’s time Trump will focus on Ted’s ability (or inability) to get things done or offer policy while his strings are pulled by large donors who he will owe something to. Also Ted’s softer immigration position and conflicted votes on trade will be brought to the forefront as an example of how money will influence him. Trump can easily show that none of the topics being focused on now would be front and center if he didn’t bring them up. He can even make the argument that Cruz would be nowhere near his position if it weren’t for riding (smartly) Trump’s coat tails and it would probably be Bush or Rubio in the lead.
Trump at this point doesn’t need to.
He is comfortably ahead, the points Cruz is getting is from Carson’s decline.
I agree this is shaping up to be Trump/Cruz as the last ones standing and the Establishment have got to be going ape.
I can see Cruz pulling out a win in Iowa, IMHO it be be very close. But once New Hampshire comes then South Carolina Trump should go on a tear.
I want this wrapped up by Super Tuesday to the point that the establishment have no choice but to fold and concede defeat. We need a unified effort to defeat Hillary, not because I think she will be a formidable candidate, but as we all know the Democrats will use every dirty trick in the book including recruiting half of America’s cemeteries to vote. Shuttling illegals to polls to vote, then bus them to the next polling station and repeat.
#Trump2016
Baby Cruz need to be cuddle and protected from elements.
No No , he is a little baby.
I am only going to pose this as I don’t believe it. Could Trump be pulling for a Cruz presidency by sling shotting Cruz over the top? With the split vote theory to get Yeb as the candidate, could Trump be throwing a wrench into the works to negate this theory and put Cruz in place to be the republican candidate? Should Cruz come close I believe Trump might bow out and let Cruz take the reins.
I want this wrapped up by Super Tuesday to the point that the
establishment have no choice but to fold and concede defeat.
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I sure hope so. There are seven (7) more debates already scheduled for 2016.
I’m not sure they are going to change anyone’s mind at this stage.
Because Trump can’t sustain a battle over conservative credentials with Cruz. I think Cruz is going to win because he has a great ground game and he’s steady. However, if Trump started bashing Cruz, he can only do it from the left. That would push Cruz to the front very quickly.
Hah, I think you forgot people who are won over by his dedication to liberty and his brilliance.
Trump is in it to win it. Nothing about the man suggests he would accept anything else, much less orchestrate it.
Trump cannot become President without Cruz’s current supporters.
Likewise, Cruz cannot become President without Trump’s current supporters.
Either one would be insane to attack the other. Leftists in the demonic party, Big Media, and the Republican party bosses would love to see a Cruz vs Trump hate-fest. DON’T GIVE IT TO THEM.
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