Cruz has the best plan and is the only one I trust to pick SCOTUS appointees. I just think he is the least likely major candidate to beat the Democrats (other than Trump who is disaster waiting to happen)
Plan=tax plan
Head-to-head polls say Rubio or Cruz beat Hillary. Only one showed Trump beating her and by one point.
I see the only remaining "major candidate" to be Marco Rubio and I think we have seen him exposed in this debate for the rather shallow fellow he is.
Ted Cruz will not make a gaffe, he has never put a foot down wrong. It matters not whether he is on his feet on the floor of the Senate for nearly 24 hours or whether he is being interviewed by hostile reporters like Katie Couric, or on the debate stage, Ted Cruz commits no gaffe. Once a nominee becomes apparent the other side goes into high gear to destroy him. Since we are talking about a Republican, the media will join in. However, the campaign itself will turn on some chink in the armor of the Republican nominee and it will probably have to do with form more than substance. George Bush at the checkout counter, Pres. Ford stumbling on the airplane ramp or, more importantly, making a major gaffe about the freedom of Poland.
Trump will make gaffe after gaffe which will not be endearing to independents and Democrats but really offputting. Rubio will be exposed as being shallow. Ted Cruz will simply not give them an opening. He is our best hope.