“But I would a helluva lot rather take my chances with Trump or Cruz than with Bush or, say, Kasich.”
Absolutely. I’d stay home with Bush or Kasich.
Remember, Trump doesn’t need anybody’s money either, so that’s not as issue. And the establishment will supposedly back the nominee, hence the pledge.
That Cruz doesn’t could be why he’s silent on what he’ll do with the illegals here.
I wouldn't count on it.
They did nothing for Goldwater. Nothing!
And whatever they did for Reagan in 1980, they did reluctantly and half-assedly.
That Cruz doesn’t could be why he’s silent on what he’ll do with the illegals here.
I've got no concerns about Cruz in this regard. In fact, I agree with his stance that talking about what you might do after the border is secure is actually a distraction. And might even have a negative effect, since the logical next step is to take steps to encourage self-deportation -- which would be telling your opponents what you want them to do, thereby encouraging them to do otherwise.
Note, though, that he has assured us that any illegal that might remain will never have a "pathway to citizenship", thus voting. On the other hand, Trump is, as I understand it, willing to let large numbers of them back in...and become citizens.