Posted on 02/15/2016 12:07:17 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz may not have had the most memorable moments from Saturday night's GOP debate in South Carolina, but that may be a good thing for his campaign.
As Donald Trump spent minute after minute personally attacking former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and the entire Bush political dynasty, Cruz just sat back and enjoyed the show (as evidenced from the photo below).
[copyrighted photo at link]
But why would it be an advantage for the freshman senator to not be the center of attention in the debate? Well, let's look at the numbers.
15:38
Fifteen minutes and 38 seconds is how long Donald Trump spoke during the GOP Debate, according to NPR. That was the most of any candidate during the nearly two hour long primetime debate. Cruz was second, with 14 minutes and 45 seconds, while Jeb Bush rounded out the top three at 11 minutes and 15 seconds. The key thing to note here is Trump spent a considerable amount of time going after Bush and being on defense against questions from CBS News Political Director John Dickerson regarding Trump's profanity on the campaign trail, as well as his alleged support of an impeachment of former President George W. Bush. Being on defense and then attacking an individual that many had written off weeks and weeks ago due to sagging poll numbers and poor performance in debates and on the trail could do nothing more than damage your brand and send voters looking at the other candidates.
As a result of the Trump and Bush arguments, Cruz was able to distinguish himself from the bombastic frontrunner and the only other person he spent much time debating, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Rubio is a real threat to Cruz. Unlike Cruz and Trump, the establishment of the Republican Party is starting to get behind the first-term senator. His showing in Iowa was strong, even if his showing in New Hampshire was weak. Going into the southern states that vote in late February and March, Cruz has to cripple Rubio while letting Trump destroy himself. What weapon did Cruz use against Rubio?
Espanol
That's right. Ted Cruz went Spanish in the GOP debate, bringing up past statements he said Rubio had made to Univision and tried to take the campaign into another language, according to CNN.
"But there was a new element Saturday night: Cruz shouted at Rubio -- in Spanish.
"Cruz had accused Rubio of saying on Univision in Spanish that he would not repeal President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration.
"Rubio retorted: 'I don't know how he knows what I said on Univision because he doesn't speak Spanish.'
"That's when Cruz looked at Rubio and uttered a few words in Spanish, challenging Rubio to continue in that language 'if you want.' "
Spanish is a language we have yet to see from Ted Cruz, though he seemed prepared to launch into an attack in Spanish so far unseen in a national debate, especially a GOP debate.
As for the other candidates, in spite of Trump's attacks on Jeb Bush, he seems to be the other clear winner in this debate. Even though he was attacked time and again by Trump, the former Florida governor gave perhaps his strongest debate performance to date, and all of the air time Trump gave Bush may have the exact opposite impact Trump had hoped for. Trump leads in all the polls, but the race for second in South Carolina is going to be close between Cruz and Rubio, and Bush may keep that second-place race a three-way. After that, we're looking at a race that is anybody's game going into Super Tuesday on March 1.
I like that ad.
Could, but not likely. Having to make up a 22 point difference, Ted is at 20 and Trump is at 42, would be nothing short of a miracle. I guess we will see if a miracle happens.
The Secret Army Stumping for Ted Cruz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/3397160/posts
Cruz is sinking fast in South Carolina
Well we will see how that works.
Problem is Cruz lost that debate pretty badly. His allowing more immigrants in hurt him as well as lying to make points did not help.
Pray America wakes
That’s good news.
Even if many of the voters didn’t watch the debate, I’m sure they saw clips and the clips were surely of the Trump meltdown.
I love you, bray, but Ted did not allow more immigrants in and he did not lose the debate.
It was not only Trumps worst debate performance by far, it was the most un-presidential 'exhibition' we've ever seen from a presidential candidate.....Trump being Trump Rude, vile, and obnoxious.
How can a sane, civilized person ever believe that he should sit in the Oval Office?.....
What most of these writers have not accepted yet is that the GOP voters are starting to coalesce around Donald Trump as the most like candidate to win the general election and be an effective agent of change in DC.
I have grown tired and bored of the permanent .itching class... They are a bunch of the least productive people on God's green earth. They fancy themselves 'king' makers and never saw or see the reality of what it is to live outside their bunkers. They are as bad as the liberals. Open Borders junkies.
A sane, civilized and genuinely interested person who was clueless about Donald Trump’s intentions for taking back America would simply go to his website and read what he has to say about his plans.
I agree. This bunch will still be talking about defeating Trump the day he is sworn in.
Some people in the GOP hate Trump as much as the left hated Palin. They have gone offtheir rocker like Glenn Beck. Beck had a meltdown and bashed Palin and said he likes Sanders more than Trump. Some conservative he turned out to be.
Cruz is in full meltdown mode running around SC spouting total nonsense about Donald Trump. He knows he’s going to lose so he’s saying anything. Its really getting pathetic.
Yes its going off the rails right now as the Cruz people see Trump emerging as the likely winner. They will calm down after it gets to point where Cruz has zero path to the nomination. After the SEC its basically over.
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