I love it! There is nothing so sweet as the sound of liberal / democrats / hard-core leftists / heads, popping & exploding with the sounds of their hatred & viciousness & intolerance! Go Ted Cruz!
Their pain is delicious...
The best strategy IS to run a principled Reaganesque course.
It just requires authenticity, principle, and very thick skin.
None of these exist in the vast majority of politicians.