It’s easy to call this scripted and bemoan the media taking sides, but perhaps it’s best to take a step back and ask if Rubio’s rhetoric is really resonating with people and whether Cruz (regardless of his sincerity and bonafides) could learn a thing or two.
I would caution Cruz to soften his tone and his pedantry. I talk to a lot of potential cross-over voters here in SC. Their visceral distaste for Cruz is palpable. And yet, they largely approve of his philosophy. The most common refrain I hear is “he can’t get along.” Now, whether that is a trumped up charge or not, Cruz has to work to eviscerate this notion. He is not Trump (whose bombast has become his calling card); he is Ted Cruz. I know Ted to be a nice guy. But too many voters don’t see it.
Campaigns based on a story simply work. Reagan’s story was about America; Clinton’s was about rising out of poverty; Obama was about a disfranchised benighted Kenyan in a world of unchecked white privlelege:)...
Rubio’s story is a poignant tale of hopeful immigrants fleeing a totalitarian society with a dream in hand ; Hillary’s story is about never getting a fair shake.
Rubio’s story is compelling and (his lilting oratorical flourishes aside) is likable ; Hillary’s simply isn’t.
That really is a fascinating juxtaposition for an election, and a powerful one indeed. And regardless of whether you find Rubio saccharin and want to pound your fists over the Gang of Eight, it makes for a great story and I believe a winning one for the Republican ticket.
Cruz could play up a similar story, but so far he hasn’t . (And Rubio’s wife is hotter) so....
So yeah....It’s basically Kennedy v. Nixon.
Rubio likable? Don’t make me laugh. Compared to Hitlery, yes. But that’s more like less detestable.
This is one hell of an insightful and thoughtful observation. Thank me for sharing