Posted on 01/19/2015 5:23:34 PM PST by xzins
Team Ted Cruz is taking shape, and the Senate first-termer's presidential campaign could start before this spring.
The Republican senator from Texas tentatively plans to fill senior campaign positions with the triumvirate he signed last summer to expand his political operation. At the top is Jeff Roe, whose organizational title is undefined but who would be the campaign’s chief strategic and logistics decision-maker. Jason Miller would shape and oversee campaign messaging; Lauren Lofstrom would direct fundraising.
Cruz is in the process of “feeling out” additional campaign hires and prospective donors in preparation to join the field of 2016 candidates. If the senator decides to run for president, he wants to hit the ground at full speed, a senior Cruz advisor confirmed Monday.
Roe, founder of the direct mail firm Axiom Strategies, has never managed a presidential campaign. But he advised Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Rick Perry in 2012 and is familiar with the terrain in the early primary states. Republicans who have worked with Roe describe him as a talented strategist who is capable keeping a campaign operation humming. Perhaps most importantly, Roe is a good fit for Cruz’ aggressive style.
“He is a mean, bare-knuckles brawler,” one Republican operative told the Washington Examiner.
Rounding out the team are pollster Chris Perkins, who earned plaudits for being among the few to correctly forecast November’s Georgia Senate race, and Jason Johnson, the senator’s longtime political consigliere. Nick Muzin, Cruz's deputy chief of staff in his Senate office, is steeped in South Carolina politics. He is viewed as someone who might take a leave of absence from Cruz' Senate office to join the campaign.
Johnson, meanwhile, is often referred to as Cruz’s “political brain." He is rooted in the Texas GOP establishment and has been with the senator the longest among his advisors. Johnson served as chief of staff to Greg Abbott for a period when the incoming governor was state attorney general. It was in Abbott’s office that he and Cruz, then the the Lone Star State's solicitor general, bonded. Johnson guided Cruz to second place and then victory, respectively, in Texas’ 2012 GOP primary and runoff contests.
Those two races constitute the 44-year-old lawmaker’s only experience with competitive campaigns. Cruz had a very easy time in his general election win against an under-funded, no-name Democrat. Republican insiders expect Cruz to contend for first choice among GOP primary voters who favor the most confrontational and conservative candidate. But to compete for the nomination, Cruz has to step up his game.
“His early reviews among tea party audiences have been stellar in Iowa,” a Republican insider in the Hawkeye State told the Examiner. “I don't think he can appeal as broadly in the party or in the general electorate as other candidates, but his support will be intense among those voters who have the highest anger score.”
Cruz has countered that to win the White House, Republicans must nominate a strong conservative who contrasts sharply with the Democratic nominee, likely Hillary Clinton.
Cruz has maintained a vigorous political travel schedule and been a constant presence in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina — hosts, in that order, of the first three 2016 primary contests. On Sunday, he was in Myrtle Beach to address the South Carolina Tea Party Coalition Convention. Cruz has cast himself as the conservative alternative in a field that could feature multiple Establishment and Tea Party candidates. That is consistent with the image Cruz has cultivated since bursting onto the national scene three years ago.
In 2012, Cruz defeated an Establishment favorite in his GOP Senate primary. Once on Capitol Hill, he led a campaign to derail Obamacare by leveraging a government shutdown and opposed comprehensive immigration reform plans that included a pathway to legalization for illegal immigrants. These moves helped Cruz solidify a fevered fan base, particularly among Tea Party Republicans, and positioned him as a national leader.
But competing for the presidential nomination, which will be decided by more than just the most conservative voters or those sympathetic to the Tea Party, requires organization, money and an expanded network of supporters. Cruz has to assemble all of that from scratch. If the senator is as skilled at the business of campaigning as he is debating, he could surge into the top tier of candidates and propel himself beyond South Carolina. Getting there usually depends at least somewhat on how a candidate performs in Iowa and New Hampshire.
In Iowa, Cruz is expected to face stiff competition in the struggle to be king conservative. The likely field includes former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the 2008 caucuses; former Sen. Rick Santorum, who won the 2012 caucuses; neurosurgeon Ben Carson; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, and others. In New Hampshire, the top overall contenders could include 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; New Hersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.
“Cruz’s politics are likely too conservative for the New Hampshire electorate; his willingness to engage voters will serve him well here,” a Granite State GOP insider said. “Still, expectations for him here will be low. A strong showing in New Hampshire as the top conservative alternative would be a shot in Cruz’s arm.”
I am sooooo ready to help this guy campaign. Ted Cruz for President!!!!!!
Which says a lot about their lack of leadership
Ahhh, you listen to Ingraham, too. Typical LI, “We need a true conservative leader!” In the next breath she is dismissing, or not even including, Ted Cruz in her mention of possible Republican candidates.
I am losing interest in her “opinions” and “analysis” more each day. Plus, she loves to hear herself talk. She goes on and on about her kids and dog, and her thinking on a subject is almost always more worthwile, she thinks, than her guest’s. After all that, she gives mere seconds to callers who have waited (waded...) through me, me, me.
Mr. Obama, get out of Ted’s house!
I agree with CAluvdubya, you write these same untruths about Cruz on threads where Cruz is mentioned (I just read some of your Cruz posts) and it has been pointed out to you that you are wrong - Freepers quoted Cruz's actual words about immigration to you. If you keep repeating these untruths, perhaps you should go post them on a Democrat website and stay there. Besides, you live way up north, perhaps you can't understand Texan true speech.
Cruz - the President for America.
See my post 85.
See my post 85.
“OMG... apparently you do not live in Texas. That is about the most ridiculous statement I have ever seen here on FR,...”
You are absolutely right. Jeb won’t take Texas. Cruz will.
This fantasy of yours is having the opposite of its desired effect.
“Cruz supports unrestricted legal immigration and pathway to citizenship like Rubio. This is amnesty no matter how you slice and dice it....”
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Why the f*** do you come in here and post LIES? I’m beginning to think you are displaying signs of mental illness...specifically DELUSIONS. Of course you could just be a leftist troll!
“We couldn’t even persuade TX voters to skip the land commissioner’s race. George P. polled about equal to Abbott and Cornyn.”
George P. polled about equal in the general election due to the fact the vast majority of Texas Republicans vote straight ticket Republican. One punch and you’re through voting. Once he won the primary due to name recognition and no strong candidate opposing him, it was a done deal for the general election. Every state office is held by a Republican except for a few judges and not many of them.
See my post 85.
I didn’t see anybody here in the article ... most candidates have secret advisors and perhaps you fall into that category.
It could be an interesting next 12 months, but the compressed schedule of primaries is a bitch and takes some of the interest out of it
Good points. I think he is a troll here to do damage.
nicely played
Wrong Obama didn't "earn" his degree.
proven success in his legal career...Obama, check.
Another LIE.He was a lazy do nothing Senator.
ability to win a senatorial race...Obama, check. Irrelevant
superb debating ability...Obama, check.
LOL How could you type this with a straight face? Another lie. If somehow Cruz could debate Obama he would leave him cowering in the corner crying. I don't think Obama every truly had an open "fair" debate with anyone.
Do we really need another person with no experience running anything and never having a real job?
Wow! You sound exactly like every other GOPe puke. What a pathtic attempt to damage Cruz.
Without a doubt you are NO Conservative.
Cruz has exactly the Experience most needed at this time. That experience is a crystal clear understanding of our United States Constitution. Cruz clearly understands the Founders belief in Limited government.
Oh, so you seem to imply that being a Governor is "valuable" experience? How utterly ridiculous in today's perilous times. Most Governors are RINOs. Very few every speaking of the evil of big government.
Government at all levels is sadistic and out of control. I can't name one Governor who would be as bold as Cruz in taking on the evil establishment of both parties.
We are about to lose our Republic. We need someone who will view government as our Founder's viewed government --as a necessary Evil.
Again, your statements clearly show that you are NO Conservative.
Chad the Impaler eh? More like Vlad the Impaler I’d say.
Ummm.... when did Obama ever have proven success in his legal career? Ted Cruz clerked for the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court and has argued and won major cases before the US Supreme Court. When did Obama do any of that?
You also forgot to mention Obama and his mentors terrorist Bill Ayers, race hate monger in chief Jeremiah Wright etc.
Ted Cruz and Obama couldn’t be more different.
You forgot the alternative of “evil”.
Unfortunately you are correct.
But there is a new path of hope.
For the first time in my life I actually see a chance for an Independent to win the White House and I see Ted Cruz as having that shot to win by running as an Independent.
First, a few facts: Independents made up 24% of the Electorate in 2012 but by 2014 they comprised a stunning 42%! (Look it up).
Second, Independents are not squishy moderates, they are persons that are fed up and distrusting of both political parties.
Third, Conservatives make up the majority of Independents.
Ted can continue to wear the GOP label but run as an Independent.
Here’s how Ted wins as an Independent:
60% of the Independents or 24% of the Electorate.
95% of the Conservative GOP Base or 20% of the Electorate.
53% of the Latino vote or 4% of the Electorate.
98% of the Blue Collar Perot demographic or 3% of the Electorate.
90% OF THE Reagan democrats or 2% of the Electorate.
Total 53% of the Electorate.
A few remarks:
1. Latinos voted 40% for Ted Cruz in the general election for TX US Senator.
2. Latinos tend to vote for Latinos first, and Party second.
3. Anti-GOP/Cruz democrat voting Latinos will stay home if Executive Amnesty is stopped (because of democrat empty rhetoric and ineptness).
4. The Blue Collar Perot voter has been pinpointed as the demographic that sunk Romney in 2012. These are very stubborn voters who will stay home unless an independent true conservative leaning candidate emerges and convinces them they are the real deal (they saw Romney as a liar).
5. The Reagan democrats will vote for a perceived moderate democrat if that’s what’s on the ticket but will crossover to a strong Independent if there is that choice. Such a strong Independent can wear the GOP label but must be viewed as outside the GOP Establishment.
A few remarks on how Ted increases his margin of victory from 53% to 55%:
1. Pro-Israel American Jews will back Ted strongly. Although they are small as a percentage of the Electorate, they are a large in influence.
2. Some GOP moderates sensing a GOP Establishment loss will cross over and vote for a GOP Independent candidate. The moderates are largely groups that feed at the government trough and desire continuity and stability. Ted will attract many of these via his strong stance on defense and NASA.
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