Cruz isn’t soaring. Fiorina is and that’s got more to do with Trump, than Fiorina. I wish I had a better answer, but right as he declared he became a target. There isn’t a MSM reporter, editor or writer that isn’t looking to stifle his campaign. They are, thus far, very effective at blocking him.
I also suspect a concerted campaign by unions and Democrats who know that Walker will be like Reagan or Coolidge and deregulate aggressively, especially with GOP Congressional control. The Deep State knows this and wants to live. It’ll fight Walker hardest.
It’s weird that the three leading candidates aren’t conservative.
I think the fact that they are non-lawyer/non-politicians is the key.