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Is Ted Cruz Going to Be Able to Pull This Off?
The National Review's The Corner ^ | March 18, 2016 | Jim Geraghty

Posted on 03/18/2016 3:30:33 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

From the last Morning Jolt of the week:

Is Ted Cruz Going to Be Able to Pull This Off? Right now, as a #NeverTrump guy, I'm rooting hard for Ted Cruz. We haven't seen any polls conducted after Rubio's departure from the race - either in key upcoming states or nationally - so we don't have a good sense of whether anti-Trump Republicans are coalescing around him. Tuesday Arizona holds its primary and Utah holds its caucus. At first glance, those are natural Cruz states, right?

[Cue ominous music.]

Notice that we've had two polls of Arizona Republicans - you know, not too far from Texas* - and Trump's well ahead of Cruz in both. The two polls were conducted before Rubio dropped out, so maybe Rubio's 10 to 12 percent will shift to Cruz and help the Texas senator make up the deficit of... 12-14 points.

Uh-oh.

The last Utah poll was in mid-February, and had Rubio 24, Cruz 22, Trump 18. Caucuses usually have low turnout, but the Utah one may turn out quite different:

For its presidential preference caucus next week, the Beehive State's Republican Party will allow any Utahn outside or inside the state to vote online. This will be the first time any political party has allowed online voting for a presidential primary election in the nation.

"We're stepping out on the national stage in a way we never have before," Bryan J. Smith, the executive director of the Utah Republican Party, said during a recent Utah caucus preparatory meeting. "This time it matters in more ways than you think."

The Utah Republican Party said its new method of voting will mainly help families, workers, missionaries and military workers throughout the world, who can't be in town for voting. It also may help Utah mothers, who find themselves swamped with child care and work.

A week from now, if Trump wins Arizona and Cruz wins Utah... do people begin to doubt whether Cruz can win a one-on-one race against Trump? Or do anti-Trump Republicans begin to really turn their ire against John Kasich for sticking around?

Politico reports, "Marco Rubio is close to endorsing Ted Cruz, but the two proud senators -- and recent fierce rivals -- have some details to work out first. Cruz has to ask for the Rubio's endorsement, and both sides need to decide that it will make a difference, according to sources familiar with the thinking of both senators."

If you're Cruz, why wouldn't you ask?

Meanwhile, one more ominous note for the #NeverTrump forces. According to the Associated Press count, Trump has 678 delegates, and needs 1,237. He's 559 delegates away from winning the nomination, and 1,059 remain. Can Trump win 53 percent of the remaining delegates?

Even if you feel confident in saying "no, Trump won't win that many delegates" - and yeah, that's a high bar to clear going forward - so far Trump has won about 46 percent of the delegates available so far. (He's done so with 37 percent of the votes cast in Republican primaries and caucuses so far.) Assume Trump maintains his current level of support throughout the rest of the process, and he'll get 46 percent of the remaining 1,059 delegates. That gives him 492 more delegates.

Trump would enter the convention in Cleveland with 1,170 delegates, just 67 short of what he needs. (It's easy to picture Trump's first phone call going to John Kasich, currently sitting there with 144 delegates.) Yes, you might hear talk or calls for a Cruz-Rubio ticket, but Trump will argue, with justification, he's won 94 percent of what was needed to be the nominee.

Derailing Trump will require a big surge from Cruz from here on out. Can he do it?

* Rule one: Look at a map before writing about which states are next to each other. Rule two: Don't write sentences like this before coffee.


TOPICS: Campaign News; Parties; Polls; State and Local
KEYWORDS: cruz; elections; tedcruz; trump; yellowjournalism
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To: VanDeKoik

Cruz is just a tool of the GOPe. I thought he once was principled. sigh!


81 posted on 03/18/2016 4:36:47 PM PDT by georgiarat (Obama, providing incompetence since Day One!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
MARIA BARTIROMO:Senator, let me follow up and switch gears. Senator Cruz, you suggested Mr. Trump, quote, “embodies New York values.” Could you explain what you mean by that?

TED CRUZ: Yea, I think most people know exactly what New York values are. (Laughter)


82 posted on 03/18/2016 4:37:01 PM PDT by r_barton (I will not vote for any RINOcrat candidate - GO TRUMP!)
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To: Veracious Poet

If that nominee is Cruz, what will you do?


83 posted on 03/18/2016 4:37:30 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: skeeter
Yeah, but then Cruz isn't promising 'really bad things' if he doesn't get the nomination. Is he.

What does that have to do with whether or not Cruz can win?

Cruz can't win. He can only act as a spoiler. Does he want to have any influence at all? Then it's time to suspend and get behind the only candidate who can win.

84 posted on 03/18/2016 4:38:05 PM PDT by Velvet_Jones
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To: skeeter
Cruz pulled less that 44% in his home state...

You folks need to keep that little detail in mind while you do your fancy war dance:)

85 posted on 03/18/2016 4:39:19 PM PDT by Mensius
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To: VanDeKoik
Always post this when you see an article from the National e- Spew:


86 posted on 03/18/2016 4:39:37 PM PDT by kiryandil (Chicago, March 2016: The Delphi Technique in action...)
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To: Velvet_Jones

I was responding to a poster who claimed this election is all about TRUMP. I am pointing out that MOST primary voters didn’t vote for TRUMP so that assertion is false.


87 posted on 03/18/2016 4:40:53 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: Mensius

So now plagiarism is de rigueur too?


88 posted on 03/18/2016 4:43:00 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: skeeter

It was posted to you. You a dunce or something?


89 posted on 03/18/2016 4:45:25 PM PDT by Mensius
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To: r_barton

The New York Values comment was so long ago. I bet people from New York will have forgotten that long before they go to the polls. /s

NY Emerson LV 3/14-16
Trump 64
Cruz 12
Kasich 1


90 posted on 03/18/2016 4:45:53 PM PDT by orangeTank
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To: FreeReign

Ted is now seen by ALL appeasing his ambition and restoring the very Establishment he has feigned to deplore to do it.

Why did we even vote, pray tell?


91 posted on 03/18/2016 4:46:18 PM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: FreeReign; FreedBird; orangeTank

It is so obvious, there is no other conclusion.UPdated delegate numbers.

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/R

Trump won 37% of votes-7,548,429 and -—> 696 delegates.

Cruz won 27% of votes- 5,484,494 and —-> 424 delegates.

The race is >60% over. Remaining state delegates, only 906 are available as pledged (97 are softies- free agents) The goal is 1237 Hard pledged delegates.

Trump must win 59% or 541/906 delegates.
He has won 11 or 12 Majority delegations (Rule 40).
Trump can afford to lose 365 delegates.

Ted must win 90% or 813/906 delegates.
Ted must win 4 more Majority state delegations (Rule 40).
Ted can give up no more than 93 future delegates.

Given what we know, Trumps road to victory is quite possible and probable.
Ted’s path to winning is like that of a tight rope walker, but less fun to watch.

If Ted loses Arizona (WTA) with 58 delegates, then he must win 98% of the remaining delegates to make it to 1237.


92 posted on 03/18/2016 4:46:36 PM PDT by Beautiful_Gracious_Skies
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To: Mensius

You sure do your idol proud.


93 posted on 03/18/2016 4:49:33 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: skeeter
I hate the term “anti-Trump vote”.

I guess people call 'em as the see 'em. That's really all a vote for Cruz or Kasich is.
94 posted on 03/18/2016 4:49:50 PM PDT by softwarecreator
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To: RitaOK

That’s a good question.

Think of it. Loving the US is considered terrorism. Wanting it to be great is anathema. Wanting it to be above other nations as exceptional is hateful.

I’m a Trump supporter. It’s odd that even HE gets the NWO.


95 posted on 03/18/2016 4:50:02 PM PDT by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)
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To: skeeter; Velvet_Jones

Yes he is promising really bad things.

I. Cruz will elect Hillary, and with the fit he’s thrown may have already.

II. Cruz depending on the weight, influence and corruption of the Establishment RESTORES the Establishment.

I believe many conservatives see now that Emperor Cruz has no clothes, is exposed in his desperate dependence on the Establishment and will not vote for him.

Basically, he is a putz.


96 posted on 03/18/2016 4:51:39 PM PDT by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: Mensius

BTW you misspelled Mencius.


97 posted on 03/18/2016 4:52:01 PM PDT by skeeter
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To: skeeter

It’s a shame that after Tuesday, your savior will be mathematically eliminated.


98 posted on 03/18/2016 4:52:08 PM PDT by Mensius
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Sorry, but no.

I liked Cruz, I was initially for him, but he’s more of a policy wonk. He’d be great at AG or even SCOTUS, but... Beck, Bush, Romney and now Lindsey?

As far as I’m concerned, Ted is racking up all the wrong friends.

I’m beginning to doubt if I want him as a plan B.


99 posted on 03/18/2016 4:52:45 PM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: tennmountainman

I’m not a purist, but am originally from NJ and teach people from MS how to properly shoot rifles. I am a vet and have vets up and down my lineage. I’m an American and Trump works for me.


100 posted on 03/18/2016 4:52:58 PM PDT by ebshumidors
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