[plain talk]

Notice he's almost always the main speaker or headliner, even when multiple candidates appear at these events and confabs?

Yep. He's an excellent speaker and proven conservative. However he has a long way to go to actually become President.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Compared to who? He was at 3% at this point in his senate race. Ask David Dewhurst, the odds-on favorite, how that turned out.