Palin isn't running. Too much money, too much damage by the media. I love her, but Cruz is still not so soiled by the MSM. Cruz is also more poised to take them on in debates. If Cruz can last till the debates, IMO, he will knock the rest off the stage. He has argued several times before the SCOTUS and won most of them if not all of them.( haven't studied the exact number)
I think the Establishment strategy is to have 20 Republicans on stage. But there will be one debate a month from August through February, and then multiple debates each month, so I'm hoping the field gets culled quickly.
It looks like Ted has enough money already to make it through the early rounds.
Yes, he will stand head-and-shoulders above the competition.