Thoughts From My Week In New Hampshire With Ted Cruz

National Review ^ | January 20, 2016 | Eliana johnson

[JSDude1]

Exeter, N.H. — I’ve spent the past couple of days on the campaign trail in New Hampshire with Ted Cruz. A few things are immediately clear:

Cruz is an incredibly disciplined campaigner: There’s general agreement among the reporters covering him, including the network embeds who have been with him for months, that he’s a boring candidate from the media’s perspective because he so rarely veers off message. Another reporter offhandedly compared him to Jeb Bush, whom he said he’d enjoyed spending time with far more because Bush was like a little kid who got himself into trouble any time he wasn’t being minded by an adult. Cruz only throws bits of news to the press intentionally, on his own schedule. The timing of his fight with Donald Trump is but the latest example.

He appears to be having fun doing something that’s not: Campaigning is drudgery, but Cruz, whom nobody has ever mistaken for a people person, seems to enjoy it. By and large, he puts on a happier face than the gaggle of reporters following him. Though this can be said for most of the men running this year, it’s notable that neither Jeb Bush nor Hillary Clinton is much good at keeping up the same act.

He’s improving as a candidate: Cruz has always been a master rhetorician, and now he’s becoming a better retail politician. Though he’s still deeply disciplined, he’s also managing to look a little looser and to crack some genuinely new and funny jokes. At a town hall in Exeter, N.H., this morning, he paused before the crowd, standing in the middle of the stage, to wave at a toddler in the balcony. During the same event, a gentleman asked how Cruz planned to win over low-information voters when Democrats

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430066/ted-cruz-new-hampshire-campaign-trail-thoughts#comment-2469258849

[datura]

I’m not sure if “becoming a better retail politician” is a compliment these days.

Just sayin...

[HoosierWordsmith]

Not when Trump flies in on a big jet for the large events he schedules in the larger cities...hard to do retail with 15K in the room. Cruz has been doing the local stuff in the coffee shops and barns throughout rural IA and NH...takes more time and effort, but may last longer with the voters!

[stocksthatgoup]

So much fun to see everyone so cranky

[napscoordinator]

If somebody is going to go to a big stadium as Trump supporters do and wait in line, go through exhaustive security, wait hours for the main event, believe me they will vote for Trump. It is easy to run into a coffee shop and say hello and glad hand. I can’t imagine the turn out if Cruz had a large stadium to fill and had to do the same process of being there 8 hours prior to start. I honestly don’t know how many would show up.

[caww]

There's no comparison.....Cruz is not a Hollywood celebrity....Donald Trump is...... many go to his Rallies because it's an opportunity to see their Hollywood idol for "free".... So you simply are wrong to assume or compare the two men in that respect......one is an Celebrity/Entertainer who most definitely performs a show who wants to be President.....the other is a Presidential Candidate....there is a difference.

[napscoordinator]

I don’t think that Trump was that big of a hollywood actor.....he’s no Brad Pitt for sure. I think they go to hear what he is going to do for the United States. Cruz is a policy wonk and nothing he does will change that. He needs to be in an office with a bunch of references and write policy papers. That is what he is good at. Every President who has won has had a personality. Cruz does not have a personal personality. Trump actually does. Cruz and Dole have the same personality and no I am not comparing issues just their temperament. Cruz would not win in today’s American Idol society. Romney also has Cruz’s temperament.

[over3Owithabrain]

The difference is about 20-30 points in the polls.

[caww]

This woman with the baby was interviewed after the rally...(along with others like her).....she said clearly she was there to see Trump because she was a loyal watcher of the Apprentice....she would not commit to saying she would vote for him.

Trumps either not beyond pulling stunts to make things appear what they aren't... at Sarah's endorsement the audience in front were 'all' students...and why there wasn't a span of them ....there are videos however before he took the stage that show this. Additionally Trump throwing money out to supporters as a stunt to keep them coming in just proves his attitude toward his supporters isn't what it's cracked up to be.

I frankly am more concerned about a President having a level head and consistent steady stands on the issues he claims then what type of personality he has....and most Americans are that vote....and I don't buy that we have sold out as an "American Idol society" as is being stated, though those that are are currently 'on stage' while the show goes on are.... But those who take our elections more seriously see all this pageantry Trump is putting on for exactly what it is.....just as his daughter said New Years Eve....."We're going to see the Trump 'Brand" in every household".......

[DoughtyOne]

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