As I was reading down this thread, I started thinking that and then read your post.
T’would be a brilliant move on Cruz’s part.
He is no dummy. I also get the impression that he does not have this huge ego that would get in the way of reality. I think he knows he is not eligible and he knows Zippos is not as well. He has not brought up the idea of running for President, the MSM has. They did that in hopes of the masses and the GOP to allow it in an effort to show that Zippo was eligible.