Posted on 02/21/2016 5:53:10 PM PST by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said he "effectively tied" Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for second place in South Carolina's Republican primary, as the two senators were separated by a little more than 1,000 votes, but both finished far behind front-runner Donald Trump.
Despite only winning one of the early voting states so far, Cruz believes his combined results show he is the "only one strong conservative remaining in this race who can win" the Republican presidential nomination.
"Our game plan from day one was do well in the first four states and consolidate conservatives to go forward into Super Tuesday," Cruz told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos Sunday on "This Week." "I think we're positioned ideally to do exactly that."
What we're doing -- systematically, nationally -- is unifying conservatives," Cruz added.
Cruz, who finished first in Iowa and third in New Hampshire, said his base remains strong going forward, especially among young Republican voters.
"We won young people in South Carolina," Cruz said. "We also won young people in Iowa."
Cruz further used his first place win in Iowa, a state in which he said he had "heavy hitters" behind his campaign, to distance himself from Rubio, who had strong endorsements in South Carolina but failed to win the state.
"All the establishment circled their wagons around Marco and yet he still only came in second after his campaign promised they were gonna win the state," he said. "We won Iowa with a big margin."
While Cruz acknowledged there was "no doubt" the attacks he and Rubio continue to level against each other are helping Donald Trump, he said that his campaign is the "only one campaign that has beaten or can beat" the real estate mogul.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Effectively!
Because 3rd place (no matter how small the margin) was a DISASTER for Cruz.
SC was supposed to be Cruz’s state. Evangelical, conservative, southern, Cruz was supposed to win going away.
But 3rd? If he comes in 3rd here, what’s he going to do in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, or Washington. To win the nomination he’s got to be able to win states like that also. And if he can’t win those states in a GOP primary, what chance does he have to win them in the general.
“We won Iowa with a big margin.”
3% is a big margin? Who knew?
This is serious delusion territory.
It sure is delusion. He’s not telling the truth here.
“off-the-charts brilliant”.
Exactly. And when Rubio came in third, he really won.
Unexpectedly Effectively!
It was close.
That’s right. Tied for ZERO delegates
===========================================
Rafael got zip.
Rubio got zilch.
He came in third. He claims he came in second.
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Read about who they are. Very established DC political class and Wall Street insiders
Ted and Marco effectively tied for a loss of the primary.
“Rafael got zip.
Rubio got zilch.”
Zip=Zilch?
I wonder what Cruz's internals were showing? How could they not see they needed to go after Rubio?
You're right, Cruz's people are dumb!
I agree with Cruz here. He did tie Rubio, at least regarding the percentage of delegates won in South Carolina:
Cruz: 0%
Rubio: 0%
I’m wondering if Rush will try and spin this the same way Cruz is?
Yes.
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