[grey_whiskers]

There are three problems with Cruz.

1) His eyes / lashes look vaguely effeminate. (Think Nixon's five o'clock shadow: purely esthetic effect.)

2) His facial shape subliminally resembles Sen. McCarthy (House Un-American Activities Committee: tho' I agree with Ann Coulter, they were correct)

3) He is something of a GOP-e on his views on immigration (both legal, H-1B, and illegal).

But for once we have a candidate who is intelligent enough.

Footnote: he also needs a bit more humor, as Reagan possessed.

[nathanbedford]

1) the aesthetic appeal should never be discounted. I submit to the temptation and take this opportunity to play the chauvinist to say that the power of the aesthetic to influence the women's vote is incalculable. And it can be the strangest thing, the way a candidate holds his hands or crosses his legs can turn women off and the jut of a chin or the timbre of voice can turn the female voter on.

2) your age is showing, scarcely any voter young enough to be subject to having his mind changed is old enough to remember Sen. McCarthy or any Member Of the House Of Representatives on the HUAC committee.

3) agreed and I would add I am suspicious of his votes on the trade bill and on the Iran deal.

No question he has the candlepower.I think he is even smarter than Chuck Schumer.

I agree on the humor question and have advocated for years that substantial campaign money be diverted to hiring a stable of comedy writers, Johnny Carson style, to lighten up the delivery and make it more palatable to younger voters. They should be able find a few million out of a billion-dollar budget. I have heard Ted Cruz offer some pretty good one-liners from time to time but they are, of course, well rehearsed. It's worth observing that Ted Cruz seems never to put a foot down wrong in debate or in an interview. He is reliably conservative and surefooted.