Posted on 02/23/2016 11:32:28 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The Hour of Peril Comes First For Cruz
Many things about this campaign have been unfair, but are no less real for being unfair. One is that the primary calendar is not evenly distributed. As I have argued for months now, the front-loading of states favorable to Ted Cruz in the first week of March is both an opportunity and a challenge for Cruz. Now, the hour of peril is here. If ever there was a time for Cruz's projections of millions of non-voting true conservatives to materialize, this is it. But if Cruz doesn't have a very good showing on March 1 and 5 (more below on what that might look like), his plausible path to the nomination will go off to John Kasich-land, and he will be faced with the choice of staying on as a factional/vanity candidate or getting out for the good of the conservative movement. It may not be fair that Cruz faces this test earlier than Marco Rubio does, but it has been built into Cruz's primary strategy and the nature of the calendar from the very beginning.
I have said for some time now - ever since my first choice in this race, Bobby Jindal, got out - that while I prefer Rubio to Cruz and think he would be a better general election candidate, I would without hesitation support Cruz if Rubio's campaign no longer had a path forward, and I'd happily go to war behind Cruz in the fall. I had always assumed that Cruz would be in this race to the very end, and he'll have money and supporters enough to do so if he chooses....
(Excerpt) Read more at redstate.com ...
I really haven’t heard it much, but the phony video had to have hurt Cruz. Hard to believe his campaign manager authorized that without a little nod from the boss. I think that hurt his vote total in the end. Could have cost him or more points. It was really ugly.
ping
Great news for Cruz, he won Elko and Lincoln County. Nye not yet reported. Bet Beck’s fasting had a lot to do with him winning these counties.
Watch the two end-of-the-night speeches.
The Trump victory speech.
The Cruz morning in America speech.
Tell me what you think.
Somebody get the hook already, for Cruz. Mr. THIRD PLACE tried to give the speech that a winner is supposed to give and it’s always far too damned long and boring.
The phony video did not come from Cruz’s campaign. Tyler saw the video online and tweeted it out without verifying it. Tyler was stupid but that video did not originate with Cruz’s campaign or was it authorized by Cruz.
Wait a minute. How is having good Cruz states up-front a "challenge" for Cruz. The author does not explain this.
Frankly, if it had not been for Donald Trump, Jeb Bush would probably be the presumptive nominee by now.
Trump's destruction of Bush is the only thing that gave the rest of the field a fighting chance.
The talking heads were discussing this tonight. The RNC set up the entire primary to provide maximum benefit to Jeb Bush, and now that setup was likely going to work to Trump's favor instead.
So you’re actually a Rubio guy? Now I get it!!
Cruz will win 5 states. Trump will win 45 states.
So agree. Jeb is crushed by his loss. Truly thought it was in the bag.
And his too too pathetic twice repeated Great State of Texas, there in front of all those Nevadans. Even the guy in the plaid shirt and weird Shakespearean collar looked sad and gloomy.
What a fiasco. Trump could just play that speech as a campaign video.
The only thing missing was a neon L on Cruz forehead.
Sadly, you don't "get" anything.
You think those who voted for Trump would’ve voted for Bush instead of Cruz or some of the others? When did Bush beat Cruz?
Cruz will win 5 states. Trump will win 45 states.
Which 5 for Cruz?
Who gets the remaining 7?
I’ve already voted for Trump in Texas.
Cruz should make a deal for Attorney General.
Red Star bloviates some more
Cruz speech was the same ideas and concepts Trump has been saying from the start.
But it was way worse than mere copy cat. It was sad, pathetic, murmuring, plodding, pedestrian, dull and downright embarrassing. I am glad I am not a relative. I would have cried. Trump could use it as-is, without comment, as a campaign video.
If there is a bright side, based on Trump's rendition of NBC requirements, his three oldest children won't be eligible for POTUS either
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