Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Presidential Horse Race 2016: “Can Trump Win?” (Rand flailing, Cruz rising)
Richard A. Viguerie's ConservativeHQ ^ | July 29, 2015 | Jeffrey A. Rendall

Posted on 07/29/2015 1:41:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Heading into the final days of July, it seems clear that not only is Donald Trump not going away, he’s increasing in support day by day. Logically, some are starting to ask, “Can Trump win?” Pat Buchanan wrote a column arguing that it could happen.

Buchanan thinks Trump touches all the right nerves in politics today, a man who mocks the political establishment of both parties and is loathed by the mainstream media. The more they discount him, the higher his poll numbers rise.

Buchanan doesn’t claim that Trump will win, but says unless Donald commits some kind of egregious error, he’ll at least be around long enough to make it interesting. “If his poll numbers hold, Trump will be there six months from now when the Sweet 16 is cut to the Final Four, and he will likely be in the finals. For if Trump is running at 18 or 20 percent nationally then, among Republicans, it is hard to see how two rivals beat him.”

Trump’s poll numbers are indeed impressive, as a recent survey in New Hampshire indicates. Trump’s lead has stretched to 12 points over his nearest rival, and further, it appears that his comments on John McCain have not undermined his popularity in the Granite State (of course, McCain won there in 2000 and 2008).

For another perspective on Trump’s war of words with John McCain, try G. Murphy Donovan’s piece at American Thinker. Donovan, a fellow Vietnam veteran, writes, “The difference between Trump and McCain should be obvious to any fair observer; Trump has done something with his talents. McCain, in contrast, is coasting on a military myth and resting on the laurels of Senatorial tenure.”

At least McCain isn’t running for president again. We can be thankful for that.

Rand Paul is one of those who is running, but Erick Erickson at RedState wonders why Paul is “missing in action.” Erickson notes that Paul isn’t raising any money and is largely missing out on key news cycles. Erickson thinks it’s because Paul’s made some bad hires.

“Paul has drawn to his side a group of campaign consultants and advisors who seem to be doing well for themselves, but I have to wonder if they are doing well for their candidate.”

It’s not too late, but Paul better pull out of the tailspin soon.

One candidate who’s most definitely not in a tailspin is Ted Cruz. Cruz’s poll numbers perhaps do not reflect his visibility and his recent throw-down with Mitch McConnell over the failure of the Republican establishment and party leadership will likely win him more support with the conservative voting base.

David M. Drucker at the Washington Examiner writes, “Even before the rise of Donald Trump, the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination was a bull market for Washington-bashing that in past years might have been deemed excessive.”

Cruz is too principled to speak out for political benefit alone – after all, he’s done it his entire political career at all levels – but furthering his reputation as a populist won’t hurt his larger campaign, despite what the “consultants” might say.

One candidate who would seem to be completely consultant-driven is Jeb Bush, who said – in Spanish during an interview with Telemundo – that he was “hurt” personally by Donald Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants.

In addition to the pain Bush felt, he added that his family eats Mexican food and speaks Spanish at home (Bush’s wife Columba is Mexican, after all).

As if trying to prove he has no principled and ideological foundation, Bush is embracing the very kind of identity politics often employed by Obama, Hillary Clinton and most Democrats.

Jeb also questioned the “language” spoken by Mike Huckabee in reference to Obama’s awful deal with Iran, saying Huckabee should watch his “tone.” Huckabee responded by saying we need a Churchill, not a Chamberlain.

Finally, Bush and Huckabee look like safe bets to be at the first debate next week, but there’s controversy ahead to decide who will fill out the final two spots on stage.

According to Jonathan Easley at The Hill:

“Fox News is capping the Aug. 6 debate in Cleveland at 10 candidates based on five as-of-yet unspecified national polls released by 5 p.m. on Aug. 4. Based on five polls used by RealClearPolitics (RCP), eight candidates look like locks to make the stage, while the race for the final two slots is headed for a controversial photo finish. For the candidates currently ranked between ninth place and 14th place, the polling differential is negligible.”

That group includes Chris Christie, John Kasich, Rick Perry, Carly Fiorina, Rick Santorum and Bobby Jindal, all within 1.5 points of each other according to Real Clear Politics.

(Note: Lindsey Graham and George Pataki are polling at near-zero. They won’t be there. No one will notice anyway.)

For those left on the “outside,” however, Fox will hold a one-hour forum earlier in the day.

There will be plenty of griping… but will it help any of them?


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; randpaul; tedcruz; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last
To: 2ndDivisionVet

Interesting take...

Many on here tell us Cruz is finished...


21 posted on 07/29/2015 2:57:15 PM PDT by TNMOUTH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Anitius Severinus Boethius

Awesome post! Thanks!


22 posted on 07/29/2015 2:58:37 PM PDT by TNMOUTH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: TNMOUTH

With $100 million in the bank? Newt, Sweater Vest and Huckleberry didn’t have that much, combined, and they hung on to the bitter end and came **this** close to beating Milt.


23 posted on 07/29/2015 3:00:06 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I agree. Just pointing out the flaw with these people who are crowning Trump and writing off Cruz...

Cruz will surprise many


24 posted on 07/29/2015 3:05:01 PM PDT by TNMOUTH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation

“Looks like the dough is with Cruz, Trump, and Bush.

They’re the most likely to slog to finish line.”

Remove the Loser Bush from the equation and one has a winning ticket.


25 posted on 07/29/2015 3:22:29 PM PDT by conservativejoy (We Can Elect Ted Cruz! Pray Hard, Work Hard, Trust God!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Cruz vs Biden in a debate would be a landslide for Biden. Biden makes up stuff that can’t be countered unless Cruz has access to a smartphone during the debate.


26 posted on 07/29/2015 3:28:10 PM PDT by impimp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet; Kale; Jarhead9297; COUNTrecount; notaliberal; DoughtyOne; MountainDad; ...
    Ted Cruz Ping!

    If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.
    Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

    CRUZ or LOSE!

27 posted on 07/29/2015 7:30:35 PM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

One thing many Mississippians need to learn is that there are many incumbent politicians to whom the NRA A+ rating is more important than the Second Amendment itself. We need to look at their entire voting record and who they support for leadership. When we get enough 2A progressives elected we’ll lose the Second Amendment and everything else. Time to dump those Congressmen and Senators who support Boehner, McConnell, K street, the US Chamber regardless of their NRA rating and and also those in Mississippi who are part of and support Haley Barbour and his Mississippi cabal.


28 posted on 07/30/2015 8:01:43 AM PDT by duffee (No money to the Mississippi Republican Party as long as joe nosef is chairman)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson