Posted on 03/02/2016 12:04:33 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In winning Texas by 16 points, winning Oklahoma, winning (as of this writing) Alaska, and finishing second in Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Tennessee, Ted Cruz has now solidified his grip on second place in the GOP presidential race. He increased his lead over Marco Rubio in states won, votes won, and delegates won--and unless Rubio can win in Florida in two weeks (or John Kasich can win in Ohio), Cruz may soon be battling Donald Trump one-on-one (more or less) for the Republican nomination. But how can Cruz beat Trump?
The number-one thing that needs to be undone from the Obama presidency also happens to be one of the things that Trump knows the least about and on which he has the least-reliable impulses. That thing, of course, is Obamacare. It is not only the centerpiece legislation of Obama's presidency, but opposition to it unites Republican voters across the party more than perhaps any other issue. Trump is extremely suspect on it. But it's hard for Cruz to frame Trump as particularly unreliable on Obamacare when Cruz himself has yet to offer a clear plan to get to repeal. But that could potentially change overnight.
If Cruz were to advance a general-election-ready alternative, it would quench GOP voters' six-year thirst. It would widen and deepen Cruz's appeal with the GOP electorate. And it would elevate the issue of Obamacare to its rightful place in the race--to Cruz's benefit.
Anyone who thinks, like Trump does, that socialized medicine "works incredibly well" in Scotland, that he's going to "take care of everybody" and "the government's gonna pay for it," and that the remedy for Obamacare's 2,400 pages of federal largess is to lock the experts in a room and let them figure out a solution, is profoundly vulnerable on Obamacare. But no one without a general-election-ready Obamacare alternative can effectively prosecute that case.
With his big Texas win in hand, perhaps Cruz will now decide to up the ante on Obamacare. If he does, it could change the dynamics of the race overnight.
So losing 9 out of 12 is now “a big night”?
Sure. Set the bar low enough and in Cruz’s words it constitutes “defying expectations”.
The REAL story is how the GOPe is pushing Marco as their savior when all he won was a caucus in a state with 45 Republicans.
Well hey he won Alaska, putting to shame that horrible idiotic Sarah Palin who backed the wrong horse...by one delegate. Yuge win for Cruz!
Was certainly a good night for Cruz. But a great night for Trump.
Am glad he won Texas and Oklahoma. Keeps him in the race, which benefits DJT also.
If finishing third is a big night, winning three primaries is a big deal. Before this you Trumpeters were saying he couldn’t win anything but Iowa. Now he has and you guys ridicule that.
“So losing 9 out of 12 is now “a big night”?”
Rubio Math.
What else would you hear from the Weekly sub-Standard.
Come November, I’m still voting for CRUX! Even if I have to write in.
Cruz survived to fight another day. I wouldn’t call that a big night, but better than the alternative.
LOL, now that there is funny!
” Before this you Trumpeters were saying he couldn’t win anything but Iowa”
You guys were saying Trump couldn’t win anything in the south.
So, congrats, Ted managed to win his home state, the one next to it, basically tied in Alaska, and got one delegate more from Iowa.
Make this guy the nominee now!
Keep dreaming. He was supposed to be the guy sweeping the South. It was his “firewall”. It appears he also had Glenn Beck doing his network security/structural engineering, if yesterday was the best firewall he could muster.
Florida has just become Trumps firewall.
The way I see it. Cruz can win it, Rubio can do well and Trump better not be complacent.
Florida is the deal sealer for Trump. Win it and you have it all. Lose it and you will slowly be crushed by the overwhelming weight of small minds.
Vote Trump.
Not me. I thought he would win Texas. But, I don’t see a path to the nomination for him, so, he can enjoy his wins last night.
who said he could not win any states?>
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