All of these conservatives jumping in makes it all the much easier for Jeb.
Politics is all about strategy.
Ted Cruz’s strategy is based on voters responding to traditional conservative values as they did when Reagan ran in 1980. Ron Paul’s strategy assumes that the US is now a very different kind of place and that voters will support a candidate who recognizes this.
Neither man may win the nomination, but the primary will gives a pretty good indication of which is correct.
Republican Poobahs will still have the last word. They dispose of 90% of the available money. They are running only one candidate. The Press will run hard on their side until the nomination is done. Republican Poobahs make the rules for the primaries and iffy states might find they only get half their convention votes. Democrats will know who their nominee is very early and many will vote in Republican primaries. The Republican Poobahs will encourage that.