Posted on 02/24/2016 8:30:17 PM PST by TigerClaws
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The “southern firewall†Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign has been building for months appears to be crumbling under the weight of Donald Trump’s staying power and Marco Rubio’s resurgence.
The Cruz campaign told Yellowhammer Wednesday night they are pulling out of the Presidential Forum set to be held at Samford University in Birmingham on Saturday, and will not be holding any other events in Alabama ahead of election day. Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign, however, reiterated their commitment to the event.
The move is one of the most open indicators to date that Cruz has failed to pick up steam in the Bible Belt South, once believed to be his geographic stronghold and his most likely path to the nomination.
Numerous southern states and almost a quarter of the Republican delegates are up for grabs in the so called SEC Primary on March 1st.
Yellowhammer CEO Cliff Sims said Cruz’s exit from the state so close to election day is unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected.
“Decisions like this are difficult for any campaign to make, but they have to do what they think is best,†he said. “Once a campaign goes into survival mode, sometimes they have to cut their losses and move resources where they can be most effective. A candidate’s time is the most valuable resource any campaign has.â€
South Carolina Republican strategist Hogan Gidley said Cruz’s lackluster performance in his home state was the first public sign that Cruz’s southern strategy was not coming together.
“It does definitely put a dent into the manufactured reputation that Cruz is coalescing all conservatives,†he told National Review. “I think we can put an end to that myth.â€
A longtime Alabama political consultant who is not working for a presidential campaign but has seen presidential campaign polling numbers through other state-level campaigns told Yellowhammer Cruz’s path to the nomination could be disappearing.
“If Cruz — the Texan, the staunch evangelical, the anti-Washington guy — can’t win in Alabama and across the South, he can’t win,†the consultant said on condition of anonymity so he could speak freely. “I’ve seen polling in the last week that shows Cruz in third in Alabama, far behind Trump and behind Rubio, too. It might become apparent after March 1st that Cruz’s goose is cooked.â€
Senator Rubio is scheduled to be in both Birmingham and Huntsville on Saturday. Donald Trump is scheduled to be in Huntsville on Sunday. No other Republican candidates are currently scheduled to campaign in the state ahead of the March 1st primary.
Bu bye Teddy.
All money and people called home to TEXAS!
Boy that has to suck Teddy....So long it was nice knowing ya!
It makes sense. Trump is double digits ahead. Charming Jeff Sessions chimes in and trolls the open borders people about how awesome and mainstream Trump.
Sessions is not endorsing so Cruz should focus on other states.
“It does definitely put a dent into the manufactured reputation that Cruz is coalescing all conservatives,” he told National Review. “I think we can put an end to that myth.”
LOL, wonder if National Review printed that quote.
Also, Ted must be frantically trying to book rallies in Texas in a desperate attempt to win by more than 2 points.
Hate to repeat something the Cruzaders were saying ad nauseam before South Carolina, but I’m guessing his internals are looking bad.
Even in the frigid north. Alaska Trump +14 Overtime Politics 41-27 over Cruz.
Last poll shows Trump leading by double digits. I wonder if Cruz has pulled out of Georgia, because Trump’s lead there is double digits as well. Cruz better just concentrate on winning TX, because I’ll bet that Trump is gaining on him after his poor showing in Nevada.
So does this mean that when god was talking to Ted’s wife and dad about Ted being anointed or the guy who was going to show the face god, god was lying?
I never believed for a second that Cruz would be competitive with Trump in Alabama and most of the other SEC primary states. It was always campaign hype and now it looks as if he’s fighting to even win his home state.
“Boy that has to suck Teddy”
Sounds like an Indian name.
I love Ted Cruz and I do thank God I did not vote for RINO trump.
Trump has shown us he hates Cruz more than sanders Clinton or Rubio.
Cruz has all the right enemies.
It’s strange watching the joy on FR when a true conservative, and someone who has for the most part been a champion of ours against some real slime balls, stumbles.
The latest Alabama poll has Cruz behind Trump by 24% and falling.
Cruz for SCOTUS.
He should cut a deal with Trump. NBC not required to be on the Supreme Court.
My guess here is he knows it’s over - internals are crushing - must win Texas to save face and stay electable in the Senate..
That would be a tough run in 18 if he lost his home state.. Some young gun would jump on that loss and run against him..
Look its no secret that GA and AL are all in for Trump. Cruz is probably trying to hang on to TX and maybe have a chance in AR.
Think this is bad, look into Joel’s Army & some of the other aspects of that cult.
Am I mistaken to think that one can at least buy their way out of sharia? I’ve forgotten what that ‘’tax’’ is called.
Not that I’d be willing to live under either theocracy.
I agree that it’s no fun to watch anyone, especially FR, take joy in someone’s demise. I don’t know why we can’t just move on without gloating or ridicule.
We’re fighting for our country here and each person supports who they think can take us forward.
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