Actually, it's the author who is clueless. Repeating your statements from the debate is not "doubling down", it's being consistent. "Doubling down" is an Obama tactic (and phrase), that generally describes taking a bad position on a situation, and making it far worse.
Cruz doesn't have a "Texas drawl", either, though I'll bet that he often wished he did. Plain spoken Texan usually says it all.....with few words.
Red and black checked flannel shirts? In downtown St. Paul? Maybe on butch lesbians.
Minnesota has conservatives ?