Just my 2 cents, and I don’t care which guy wins.
I don’t hate the guy. But to answer your question.
Here are things that raise questions about Cruz or make people not like him - whether you believe they are true or not:
Natural born citizen status & being born out of the US
Goldman Sachs marriage
Wife’s participation in the Trilateral commission
His lack of charitable giving despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Failure to disclose loans when he filed for the election despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Carson deceitful incident in Iowa despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Deceitful mailer in Iowa despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Deceitful ads despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Nixonian mannerisms/creepiness/whiny voice
Constant selling of Christianity
Staff members quitting his campaign and saying he is a phony behind the scenes.
Now, I know the true Cruz believers can discount all of those.
I get it. Nor do I need them explained.
The more I hear Cruz, the less I like listening to him. His cadence, his voice, his laboring over points in slow motion, his failure to speak the language of the people and come across as an attorney... all of it. I’d rather mow the lawn or wash dishes or do taxes. That’s just me.
Is he better than Rubio? Sure. Is he better than Hillary? Sure.
There you go. My take on why people respond to him as you requested.
Well said, I’ve had similar thoughts.
Natural born citizen status & being born out of the US
Goldman Sachs marriage
Wife’s participation in the Trilateral commission
His lack of charitable giving despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Failure to disclose loans when he filed for the election despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Carson deceitful incident in Iowa despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Deceitful mailer in Iowa despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Deceitful ads despite wanting everyone to know he is a Christian.
Nixonian mannerisms/creepiness/whiny voice
Constant selling of Christianity
Staff members quitting his campaign and saying he is a phony behind the scenes.
That’s a good summary.
I would add a few more off the top of my head:
Smearing Rubio regarding TPP when Cruz himself enabled TPP with his U. S. Senate votes on TPA
Smearing Trump on caucus day in Iowa.
Cruz Super PAC receiving millions in anonymous, money laundered donations funneled through straw LLCs.
Using Mitch McConnell’s lawyer.
Cruz is running a classic beltway insider win at all costs campaign. Little principled or conservative about it, IMO.