Posted on 07/06/2015 8:05:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Even then Trump has the ability to keep going. I'm liking a lot of what he's saying/doing, just don't trust him because of his past. He knows how to use media better than anyone, and knows how to push buttons, I just can't trust him to be reflexively conservative, nor do I trust him to not deliver the nation to Hillary via third party.
Cruz will have to deal with the Trump factor, and as you imply, go long for when he finally drops out or runs third party.
Right now he has to make the debates. It's doubtful he will survive if he doesn't. It's why I think he needs more money bombs, followed by messaging bombs.
I do think he needs help now, there are a lot of, candidates that hope he doesn't make the debates. I think they know what a formidable speaker he is, and how well he handles himself in those situations.
The Jeb faction would love not to be shown debating him. Like Hillary, the less genuine competition Jeb has, the easier it will be for him to divide the GOP vote and walk through with about 20%. I don't think it will work, but one of the ways it can is if we sit back and watch Cruz be aced out of a debate platform. It's possible, and hardly unthinkable with so many candidates out there sucking the oxygen (and money) out of the air.
We really need to go out of our way to talk people away from those who take potential Cruz voters (Huckabee, Santorum, Perry) and talk others away from Bush toward those taking votes from him (Christie, Kasich, Pataki, Rubio, etc.)
I am convinced that a realistic candidate will early on recognize the need for national advertising. Incidentally, Rubio is ALREADY doing just that. Like him or not, it is a smart move.
So very true. Also remember that this primary got started really really early. In July, 2011, Gingrich and Santorum ranked lower than Cruz does now.
And Ted Cruz will thrive in the debates like Newt (without the baggage) and unlike the whiner Santuckabee. And there is no obvious strong Establishment front-runner like Romney was in '12. With this many candidates, even the 'race' for the squishy moderate candidate is tight.
A meteor that burns hot early, cannot burn very long.
We’ll see how this plays out.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Nothing’s going to happen in this race until something happens. Let Cruz state his case, unfiltered, on a debate stage and then let’s see what happens.
Rubio is a formidable candidate. He will equal Cruz in the debates, he speaks well and is the most telegenic candidate. He is the most likely to gain GOPe support, especially if (I think when) Bush tanks early. Rubio is THE major threat to the conservative candidate who survives the early primaries.
Ted Cruz will leap into the top tier if Santuckabee (or is it Huckatorum) is kept out of the debates by their low poll #'s ...
Let's get Cruz in the debates. Donate now. I also like the xzins methododology. Nothing we can do about the RINO faction, except applaud there are so many. On FR, there are few people who want Santuckee, Perry, or others.
When all is said and done, I’m ok with that. Rubio is better than Bush. And, honestly, if the Republicans have their candidate decided by the time this gets to Ohio, and if Jim Webb is still in competition with Hillary, then I’d rather have Webb a potential winner.
All along I prefer Ted Cruz. No one else compares, even with his 2 problems, I still have him above all others.
True dat. And if the Trump meteor is burning as the lightning rod, that means the Cruz one is able to continue its trajectory relatively unimpeded for now.
In a way, The Donald is providing an assist as his lead blocker right now.
Answer: No.
Comment: The man does not seem to resonate with voters.(i would vote for him if by some miracle he is nominated as the Republican candidate.)
Once again, SOTC, great minds are on point, instinctively!
In my circles outside of FR, I've been contrasting Cruz with Santorum all day long. And it has been effective. I give a nod to Santorum's social conservatism bonafides but quickly state that if you look at his record, he is not a fiscal conservative. And he's a "retread" who couldn't beat Romney in '12 and not the fighter we need at this time. I say that Ted Cruz is a fighter and the entire conservative package.
I have several friends who have been swayed by the media's "Palinization" of Cruz and think he's too extreme. They opt for Walker. That's a harder sell.
I haven't had to counter anyone who wants Huckster, at least in my circles.
I’ve noticed, on lefty sites like Polutico (read linked articles, there), people repeatedly describe Cruz as an extreme ideologue, far-right, etc.
Since when is using our Constitution as a foundation or guide considered far right or extreme? That’s the mentality we’re dealing with, here.
Did you know that he was at 3% in the polls at this stage in his senate race?
Tagline.
Clearly, that's not going to happen.
I listened to Cruz’s hour long sit down with Katie Couric. She was herself, trying to set trap after trap, and insisting he answer questions but then not giving him time to answer before an interruption.
It was obvious she saw him as an extreme conservative, and I believe one of her early questions even was something along the order of “how can an extreme conservative make it”. Cruz, of course, gave her a lesson on the difference between Reagan versus Dole/McCain/BushGHW/Romney. “Bold colors”.
You know, Jane, I’d swear Couric looked dumbstruck, like she’d never heard that before.
Sadly, facts are facts. Real Clear Politics averages polls. He's in 7th or 8th place nationally and in New Hampshire and Iowa. He's doing better in South Carolina, where he is in 4th place.
You can't plausibly claim he's outsmarting anyone or in the first tier. He's mired in the middle of the pack with the likes of Rick Perry and Christie.
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