Last time I looked Cruz was in 8th or 9th place in the polls.
I guarantee the Cruz supporters will have hissy fits if Cruz does not make the cut for the debates.
If Cruz doesn’t make it, he did it to himself. He dealt with the devil on that very bad trade authorization bill and got played.
The difference between Mitt Romney and Trump is simple. Trump is not hated—and deep within the population we all want to be Trump. He’s is brash, crude even but Honest in ways Mitt could never fake. No one—not even Mormons—want to be Mitt—he never showed his true side to the world. Trump is egotistic and all—but honest. If he doesn’t like people—he says so. Deep inside we would like to see him in a gold plated White House —he would fire people! He would be feared the way “cowboy” Reagan was feared. Putin wouldn’t challenge him—nor would China. ISIS would fear him and Iran cave to his demands because he might well attack them! Same with Cruz! Teds the smarter man and I see him rise after the debates—Trump/Cruz will be a tag team in the debates. The only question is-—will it be Cruz/Trump or Trump/Cruz?