Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Surprise: Trump goes positive, yanks ad attacking Cruz in South Carolina
Hot Air.com ^ | February 11, 2016 | ALLAHPUNDIT

Posted on 02/11/2016 6:37:09 PM PST by Kaslin

From now on, if you want to hear how Cruz is an unlikable illegal immigrant from Canada with a nasty disposition who cheated Ben Carson, has run wild like a “maniac” in the Senate, is on the take from Goldman Sachs, and, by the way, is a “pussy,” you’ll have to settle for watching Trump’s rallies or one of his 35 interviews a day on cable news.

When it comes to ads, he’s all about positivity.

On Tuesday, Donald J. Trump's campaign started running a negative ad in South Carolina against Senator Ted Cruz that was searing, describing the winner of the Iowa Republican caucuses as a fake and a "Washington insider."

The spot also scolded Mr. Cruz for his campaign's role in spreading claims that Ben Carson had suspended his campaign while the caucuses were taking place; Mr. Carson, in fact, had not ended his candidacy, and Mr. Cruz later apologized to him.

But on Wednesday the spot was abruptly pulled down by the campaign. The Wall Street Journal reported on the strategic shift, saying that Mr. Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, had made the decision to go with all positive spots beginning on Thursday. Mr. Lewandowski made the decision after seeing that Mr. Trump's more positive-focused tone in New Hampshire appeared to help him at the end, according to The Journal.

That’s one possibility. Trump fans may like mean Trump but undecideds who are worried about his temperament surely prefer nice Trump. Another possibility per Sean Davis is that this is just another case of Trump demonstrating his mastery of the media, knowing that his ad will get plenty of free hype now from cable news as The Ad That Even Trump Thought Was Too Negative. I think there’s probably an element too of Trump wanting to play the victim next week, knowing that Cruz has little choice but to attack him as a fake conservative, a Christian in name only, and a loose cannon. Trump likes to be seen as a counterpuncher so that he can claim self-defense when he’s accused of being a bully. He’ll probably get more mileage out of telling people “look how statesmanlike I’m being as Ted Cruz throws the kitchen sink at me” than he will from running one ad a few times on South Carolina TV. Attack ads, after all, are what politicians do, and Trump’s not supposed to be a politician. So long as he sticks to ripping Cruz to shreds in earned media rather than paid media, he’s still an “outsider,” I guess.

Speaking of ads, here’s a new one from Cruz that dropped this afternoon targeting … Marco Rubio. You can see the strategy here: To beat Trump, Cruz needs to consolidate conservatives, and plenty of conservatives are still behind Rubio. I don’t know if goofing on Rubio voters for having been naive is the best approach to conversion, though. I also don’t know how long Cruz and Rubio are planning to wait on attacking Trump in earnest while each tries to eliminate the other. Righties have been screaming at them and (especially) Jeb Bush for months to stop waging this dangerous war to become the one true Anti-Trump while Trump advances through the primaries unhindered on the assumption that there might be time to stop him later, but it looks like that’ll have to wait until Nevada, and maybe even the southern primaries, at the earliest.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: ad; attack; cruz; negative; positive; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-114 next last
To: WENDLE

And you know this how?


61 posted on 02/11/2016 7:42:57 PM PST by Guenevere (If.the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: JBW1949

Like krauthammer is anything more than a paid gope hack.


62 posted on 02/11/2016 7:43:44 PM PST by enduserindy (Republican’s have sold the path, not lost it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: JBW1949

We agree on pro America.

Tush said something very finny today about the other team.

He said in the 60s the message from the protesters was America sucks and now that they are entrenched in the GOV at highest levels they still shout America sucks

Bernie and Hillary are worm dirt to Cruz.


63 posted on 02/11/2016 7:46:52 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: MinuteGal

A fair point


64 posted on 02/11/2016 7:47:55 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Guenevere

Fuggedaboudit!


65 posted on 02/11/2016 7:48:41 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
I just saw Trump on Hannity where he definitively said he would repeal 0bamacare, as well as the Common Core federal takeover of education. He expressed his conviction that accomplishing each of these goals was absolutely necessary.

Trump is out there making the unambiguous and energetic calls for dismantling 0bama's wet dream of a domineering Marxist federal leviathan.

This is part of the reason that Trump is getting such substantial support. He's not sugar-coating things, he's passionate, and, contrary to unfounded assertions otherwise, he's providing plenty of detail.

Even if other GOP candidates are urging similar measures, they don't seem to be engaging and convincing the American People as effectively as Donald Trump is.

Make no mistake: Trump is leading the charge this election cycle. Someone else may ultimately end up carrying the banner, but Donald Trump's critical role in the coming Revolution can never be denied or dismissed.

If Trump wins the Presidency, he will have earned the opportunity to serve.

And much the same is true for Cruz.

There are those who insist on dismissing or ridiculing Donald Trump's candidacy. In doing so, they are insulting and denigrating a lot of good People who believe their candidate is a decent man and a Patriotic American, and one who will make a fine President.

At this point, IMHO, such anti-Trump factions are completely detached from the real political phenomenon that is occurring. They are missing the boat.

It's time to hop aboard (and hope aboard) the Trump Hype Train.

66 posted on 02/11/2016 7:49:24 PM PST by sargon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: altura

No Trump realizes negative ads are not the way to go this election. He knows that Cruz has to win SC or his campaign is over. SC is a must win so why go negative?

Pray America wakes


67 posted on 02/11/2016 7:49:39 PM PST by bray (Trump/Palin 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: MinuteGal

I don’t worry too much about what talking heads on TV say about Trump or Cruz...

I listen more to what common, everyday Americans say...

It seems that most are tired and angry at the professional politicians that have ran the country into the ground for the last 25 years and have had all the smarmy “politispeak” that they want to hear.

Now, I am talking about the REAL dyed-in-the-wool Americans...not the limp-wrist liberal pajama boys and girls...

Americans are ready for someone who will DO what they say and have little use for the so-called Politically correct way of talking and acting...


68 posted on 02/11/2016 7:49:40 PM PST by JBW1949
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: JBW1949

I never listen to talking heads or yapping dogs, well maybe yapping dogs..


69 posted on 02/11/2016 7:52:47 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: mylife

LOL...


70 posted on 02/11/2016 7:53:15 PM PST by JBW1949
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: FReepers; Patriots; FRiends



PLEASE MAKE YOUR DONATION TODAY!
GO MONTHLY IF YOU possibly & reliably CAN!

71 posted on 02/11/2016 7:56:40 PM PST by onyx (IF YOU'RE POSTING HERE, HOPE YOU'RE A DONOR! FReepLoaders are RUDE.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: altura

I bet Bubba Clinton which he had a cameo role in that ad with her LOL


72 posted on 02/11/2016 7:58:42 PM PST by Patriot Babe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: onyx

His hair is worse than mine :)

But he has that bank account...

Touche Mr Trump


73 posted on 02/11/2016 8:00:49 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Heck, all DONEald has to do is spend the night in Nuevo York to get ‘those values’ back and shazam the old nasty Trump will return to the guy the Trumpbots like.


74 posted on 02/11/2016 8:01:40 PM PST by X-spurt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 20yearsofinternet
"Tan Hairpiece Eminent Domain Trump Curse Word French Poodle Forgot To Put Toilet Seat Down".

LOL!

And...

LOL!

75 posted on 02/11/2016 8:08:28 PM PST by To Hell With Poverty ("2 Corinthians walked into a bar...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: onyx

76 posted on 02/11/2016 8:11:57 PM PST by Theophilus (The GOPe are dealers. The Marxist Democrats are duelists.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Trump needs to put it back...and worse. Cruz’ latest eminent domain lie-fest is too disgusting not to hit back. Hopefully Trump will expose Cruz on it at the debate.


77 posted on 02/11/2016 8:12:02 PM PST by montag813
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: onyx

here is how elections work. some piehole told everyone one that I looked like President Snow but I aint running for President and that I aint a fictional character on some dumb TV show.

I looks better too


78 posted on 02/11/2016 8:12:36 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: montag813

Trump owns that parking lot for my limo thang.

Like a bit of terloit paper stuck on his shoe


79 posted on 02/11/2016 8:15:52 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: Shortstop7

I thought tonight he was trying to put fun back in his rallies. That’s easier for him to do when he’s rested.


80 posted on 02/11/2016 8:16:35 PM PST by Kenny (RED)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-114 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson