Posted on 01/02/2016 9:24:11 PM PST by VinL
Ted Cruz has to win the Iowa caucuses.
Not because there's something magical about Iowa or its predictive powers.
No, Cruz can't afford to lose in Iowa because he's already predicted, unequivocally and without reservation, that he will win Iowa. And while Cruz is in so many ways an unconventional politician, there are certain immutable rules in politics.
One is that falling short of expectations in Iowa or New Hampshire is bad.
"He will win Iowa. We're very confident he will win Iowa," Cruz campaign co chairman Chad Sweet declared last month.
It's a bold prediction, though not outside the realm of possibility.
By mid December, Cruz had already overtaken billionaire Donald Trump in Iowa.
And to cement his lead, he embarks Monday on a six day barnstorming tour that includes stops in 28 of Iowa's 99 counties. That will bring him close to a "full Grassley", a feat he vowed last June to complete. It's named for U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who makes it a point to visit every county in the state each year.
Lots of these counties have more livestock than voters, and that's not just a saying. The last U.S. census counted 6,462 people in Osceola County, the least populous on Cruzâs itinerary this week, and the last U.S. Agriculture Department report showed 38,500 head of cattle.
Turnout in the big cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport will overshadow even a landslide in such a tiny pocket. But from Muscatine to Spirit Lake, it warms an Iowan's heart to know that a potential president cares enough to try.
Cruz certainly has put more effort into the state than most. He has volunteers in every county. He's rented a college dorm outside Des Moines for Texas supporters to live in when...
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
The way this race is shaping up, he needed to win Iowa regardless of whether or not he predicted winning it. He also likely needs to win SC, which can only happen if there is some shake up at the top coming on the heels of a Cruz win there.
Trump rally in Council Bluffs, IA:
Cruz’s “Strike Force” of Texas Supporters Readies Iowa Push
http://www.texastribune.org/2015/12/04/cruzs-strike-force-sets-shop-begins-work-iowa/
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I think you’re right, though I view it from a slightly different angle. When the SEC is said and done, he has to be perceived as the clear “winner” and front runner-— Iowa,Sc SEC is his constituency, if he doesn’t dominate then the underlying theory of his campaign is vitiated— and then, he’s playing for second.
Donald will blow him away
Hey Vet, nice of the Donald to hold a “pep rally” for Ted in Mississippi- while Ted locks up the votes in Iowa.
I notice none of those folks in that picture will be affected by the Cruz social security benefits reduction plan. interesting.
My stupid tablet won’t play the video!!
Don’t worry it’s only a screen capture picture. ;-)
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The whole SEC primary group should be a natural for Cruz.
I can not for the life of me get into my head what anybody’s got when they “get Iowa”. Honestly, if TRUMP won IOWA, no one would care. It is too weird a state. Now, New Hampshire, is a real kick off vote into South Carolina, which are the lead-in to big Super Tuesday.
The strictly evangelical support eventually hits a wall and thins out. Then you’re running on fumes to have banked your whole case for only evangelicals.
TRUMP has sewn up and owns all the other issues and all the other ideas that actually matter to Americans. No one is more convincing, or more authentic or more FED UP, than TRUMP.
A citizen can still be president in the USA. Grant it, you have to be super rich, but PAC’s that usually make presidents are soaked in money and favor exchanges and we all know it.
This is a rare and historic thing we’re seeing in TRUMP. I pray nothing kills this GOD-sent opportunity. There will never be another one in my life time. It would be right back to business as usual cronyism.
PING
my hometown paper speaks of a possible CRUZ Iowa win. Will he or won’t he?
Well, nobody expected anything better from you.
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