Ted Cruz could actually be the Republican nominee for president

The Washington Post's Plum Line ^ | November 24, 2015 | Paul Waldman

[2ndDivisionVet]

Momentum in primary campaigns is a mysterious thing: impossible to manufacture, easily squandered, and often misidentified. But there’s little doubt that at the moment, with two months before the Iowa caucuses — a period that will fly right by, I promise you — Ted Cruz has it.

In that critical first contest, Cruz has leaped toward the front in two new polls: he’s essentially tied with Donald Trump in the latest Quinnipiac poll (Trump has 25 percent, Cruz has 23), and in a CBS poll released yesterday he’s in second place. If voters are ending their fascination with Ben Carson, Cruz is the natural recipient of Carson’s votes, which come primarily from evangelicals, whom Cruz has been courting assiduously for some time...

[Cicero]

Anything to bring down the Donald.

[fwdude]

People like to point to Trump as a "mover and shaker," forgetting that Cruz preempted Trump years ago in drawing the ire and attention of rabid leftists, and even establishment Republicans, through his filibuster and staunch insistence on conservatism and fiscal responsibility.

Do we have collective amnesia?

[EQAndyBuzz]

They are going to use Cruz to get rid of Trump, but Cruz isn’t buying it. Cruz knows the minute he goes to the front they will try to get rid of him.

[calisurfer]

That’s right...all this media push for Cruz is about getting Rubio the nomination.

[sparklite2]

I’ll vote Cruz/Trump in any combination.

[DaveyB]

Ummm not everything is about Trump.

Cruz is in it to win it and some folks are just now discovering how formidable he really is as a conservative and as a candidate.

Go Cruz!

[so_real]

Some of us (including Cruz himself) have spoken to the fact that Cruz has a very real path to victory. He has since the beginning. But, a lot of that success depends on how "teflon" Trump is, and Trump is very "teflon" :-)

[rdb3]

Do we have collective amnesia?

Nope. People remember what they want to remember.

[gov_bean_ counter]

At the end of the day, Cruz doesn’t have to outrun Trump, he just has to outrun the other Republican contenders

[Tau Food]

Of course, he can.

CRUZ - 2016

[DaveyB]

At the end of the day, Cruz doesn't have to outrun Trump...

He does if Trump doesn't drop out or go 3rd party. Cruz is running for president, not vp, and he has a real shot to win!

[gov_bean_ counter]

I’m not so sure. As candidate drop out, their support will go somewhere. Trump’s nastiness has virtually ensured that they won’t go to him (especially Carson).

[so_real]

At the end of the day, Cruz doesn't have to outrun Trump, he just has to outrun the other Republican contenders

Exactly! Which is why more people should (by now) see Cruz's path to victory. Most of the Republican contenders are running in the wrong direction. Cruz beats them even while standing still -- and Cruz is not standing still.

[gov_bean_ counter]

FReepmail.

[gov_bean_ counter]

FReepmail.

[VanDeKoik]

“People like to point to Trump as a “mover and shaker,” forgetting that Cruz preempted Trump years ago in drawing the ire and attention of rabid leftists, and even establishment Republicans, through his filibuster and staunch insistence on conservatism and fiscal responsibility.

Do we have collective amnesia? “

No. It’s called which guy is better at withstanding the barrage of the media and leftists while promoting important issues to us.

The nomination isn’t a gift that he is entitled to. He needs to earn it in the heat of the race. The Scott Walker people had the same entitlement mentality, and thank goodness it didn’t play through.

It’s all about campaign performance.

[FourPeas]

Trump’s nastiness has virtually ensured that they won’t go to him

No doubt at least one of the reasons Cruz has announced he won't attack his opponents and has been very gracious when candidates have dropped out. Attacking those who are supposed to be long-term allies is never a winning move.

[conservativejoy]

Cruz never resorted to attacks when he ran for Senate either. He is too principled to sling mud. He will draw contrasts between himself and others on policy, which is the whole point of campaigning and making his case to the voters. I think it works to his advantage.

[Finny]

Amen, Davey!!