Posted on 12/09/2015 12:14:39 PM PST by VinL
Iowa caucuses are 54 days away. Donald Trump is, still, the national frontrunner. Marco Rubio is, now, the establishment's best (only?) hope. And Ted Cruz is the guy who looks best positioned to win.
Yes, you heard that right.
Ted Cruz, as of today, has the most direct route to the Republican presidential nomination -- assuming the past history of Republican nomination fights works as a broad predictor where this race is headed.
Let me elaborate.
1. Cruz is positioned as the most conservative candidate in the race. While Trump gets all of the attention for his over-the-top statements, Cruz has staked out a position on the far right on virtually every major hot button issue -- from immigration to Obamacare to national security and the fight with ISIS. And, tonally, Cruz comes across as aggressively and unapologetically conservative -- a less controversial and unelectable version of Trump.
A Washington Post-ABC News November poll showed that Cruz's numbers are in the stratosphere with voters who identify themselves as "very" conservative; 69 percent had a favorable opinion of him while just 21 percent regard Cruz in an unfavorable light.
In a Republican primary -- particularly one in which the GOP electorate is mad at hell at everyone (including those in their own party) for an alleged lack of commitment to conservative principles -- being the guy all the way on the ideological right is a very, very good thing.
2. Cruz has raised the second most money in the race. Yes, Jeb Bush is far and away the fundraising leader in the race. Not only did we know that would be the case but we also now know that it has done him, roughly, zero good. But, what most peopl
Cruz on, Ted!
Except it hasn't happened.
When I want facts, I ALWAYS go to the Washington Compost. /s
I dunno....looks to me like Trump could be dragging a lot of Democrats over in open primary states.
Cruz’s right on target.
I swear if this was the case, then you wouldn’t need to spend your free time trying to convince yourself so much.
Because outside of Cruz’s base, next to no one is buying this.
Apparently Chris Cillliza does not know the meaning of the word “fact.”
Go Senator Cruz!
Assessment of prior positioning is not a fact.
The facts supporting that opinion are in fact facts.
Calling an opinion a fact is just plain silly.
Even a correct or well supported opinion remains an opinion...
Read comment- disjointed- ignore.
Notice the WaPO’s spin above..”unelectable version of Trump”.
Of course this is the exact same view the Media in the past had of Ronald Reagan.
Well Ted will have to win the nomination with 1 primary if you can do that. He’s iffy in Iowa, He’s at 7% in NH. SC is Trump central I’m trying to see this unique path to victory. Oh wait Trump is going to drop out. Yeh that’s the ticket.
I think he meant to say, ineloquently, “a less controversial and less unelectable version of Trump.”
More and more those in the know see Cruz's leadership, skills and conservative appeal and Cruz's clear path to victory.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.