Posted on 02/24/2016 8:30:17 PM PST by TigerClaws
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The “southern firewall†Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign has been building for months appears to be crumbling under the weight of Donald Trump’s staying power and Marco Rubio’s resurgence.
The Cruz campaign told Yellowhammer Wednesday night they are pulling out of the Presidential Forum set to be held at Samford University in Birmingham on Saturday, and will not be holding any other events in Alabama ahead of election day. Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign, however, reiterated their commitment to the event.
The move is one of the most open indicators to date that Cruz has failed to pick up steam in the Bible Belt South, once believed to be his geographic stronghold and his most likely path to the nomination.
Numerous southern states and almost a quarter of the Republican delegates are up for grabs in the so called SEC Primary on March 1st.
Yellowhammer CEO Cliff Sims said Cruz’s exit from the state so close to election day is unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected.
“Decisions like this are difficult for any campaign to make, but they have to do what they think is best,†he said. “Once a campaign goes into survival mode, sometimes they have to cut their losses and move resources where they can be most effective. A candidate’s time is the most valuable resource any campaign has.â€
South Carolina Republican strategist Hogan Gidley said Cruz’s lackluster performance in his home state was the first public sign that Cruz’s southern strategy was not coming together.
“It does definitely put a dent into the manufactured reputation that Cruz is coalescing all conservatives,†he told National Review. “I think we can put an end to that myth.â€
A longtime Alabama political consultant who is not working for a presidential campaign but has seen presidential campaign polling numbers through other state-level campaigns told Yellowhammer Cruz’s path to the nomination could be disappearing.
“If Cruz — the Texan, the staunch evangelical, the anti-Washington guy — can’t win in Alabama and across the South, he can’t win,†the consultant said on condition of anonymity so he could speak freely. “I’ve seen polling in the last week that shows Cruz in third in Alabama, far behind Trump and behind Rubio, too. It might become apparent after March 1st that Cruz’s goose is cooked.â€
Senator Rubio is scheduled to be in both Birmingham and Huntsville on Saturday. Donald Trump is scheduled to be in Huntsville on Sunday. No other Republican candidates are currently scheduled to campaign in the state ahead of the March 1st primary.
“All money and people called home to TEXAS!”
That is what I have heard. Cruz is going to camp out in Texas. He is going all out in his home state.
“It’s strange watching the joy on FR when a true conservative, and someone who has for the most part been a champion of ours against some real slime balls, stumbles.”
agreed 100%
I’m for Trump - but it’s like a kidney punch every time I see a hard Cruz bash..
Bookmarking this thread to resurrect in about three years.
Let’s see if we’re still giddy that celebrity (or socialism) was preferred over conservatism in 2016.
I’m sorry. I wanted Ted and Trump left standing - not slick Rubio!
I don’t want to see Cruz lose his Senate seat. I hope he’s not damaging himself politically to that extent.
Yes:
Ontario
Quebec
British Columbia
Alberta
Manitoba
Nova Scotia
etc.
Again with the Cruz comedian troupe ...some of you Cruzers are really good at the nonstop hilarity ...
Here’s one for you ... Beck and Levin are the Thelma and Louise of talk radio Cruz worshippers
I plead guilty. I couldn't help myself when Jeb suspended his campaign. I engaged in gloating and ridicule.
You may be right he would be ideal - but he’s too conservative for the Republican Party today.
He can’t win conservatives. Forget about moderates and independents.
For Cruz, TX and AR is maybe all he will win on ST.
Sorry to be be the bearer of bad news but he won’t win the nomination.
The delegate math isn’t going his way and to get the nomination, you need to win at least 8 states and lots of delegates.
On Tuesday, Cruz will win Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas.
And maybe Tennessee.
Now, will the Cruzer globalists and liars please exit the building? Don’t let the FR door hit ya in the a$$ on the way out. It’s going to be great here without your bs.
“Hate to repeat something the Cruzaders were saying ad nauseam before South Carolina...”
That St. Rafael’s ground game was going to be so powerful that it would make the Earth spin off its axis and crash into the sun?
Here’s a question:
If a RAT Senator that starts running for POTUS the second he walks onto the Senate floor, like Obama, that’s bad.
But when a GOP Senator (Rafael Edwardo Cruz de Canada) does the exact same thing, that’s good?
The Cruzbots are many, many things, hypocritical being very prominent among them.
Cruz punched first and as we all know.... Old age and treachery always beats youth and skill, especially when it is the pup trying to be treacherous and you have to wipe his nose in it.
Thanks for your relevant answer.
You can thank , crybaby Levin, crazy Beck, and banksters Goldman Sachs for that ..it’s not anyone else’s fault ...
Where’s the evidence for it?
At best he’ll finish third behind Cabana Boy and Trump in most states but TX and maybe AR.
To get the nomination, he needs to actually win lots of states. Third place isn’t gonna get the job done.
So both Rubio and Cruz have the same strategy, win the home state, then hope for some winner take all after the 15th. At least Cruz has a shot at the home state part.
I think that it’s called jizzia or something like that.
Nobody will see me celebrating Senator’s Cruz’s demise.
He got the worst advice from that Communication’s Director he fired and hooking up with Glenn Beck hasn’t helped either.
I hope and pray Mr. Donald John Trump continues his ascent!
Senator Marco Rubio is the Establishment’s hope.
It was so relevant , that you replied ...
nice try, goodbye ...
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