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.
“FReepeers have always gone after each others supporters to some extent but never with the vile and tasteless manners I’ve seen and heard here fro rump supporters’
Would you like me to post the names I’ve been called by Cruz supporters? We can start with ‘brownshirt’ ‘inbred’ ‘imbecile’ ‘dumber than rocks’ ‘stupid’ ‘LIV’ ‘uneducated’ ‘ lazy’ ‘Kardashian worshipper’ ‘cult zombie’ ‘mindless’ ‘brainless’ ‘lacking morality’ ‘liberal’ . I could go on. Neither side can claim the high road on the name-calling but wanted to point out to you that it runs both ways.
Like I said, I just won’t vote for the guy. Why go through the effort to sue him when he is not going to win anyways and the whole point will soon be moot? It is easier to just wait a couple of weeks until he is done and out. You have a great day.
Like I said, I just won’t vote for the guy. Why go through the effort to sue him when he is not going to win anyways and the whole point will soon be moot? It is easier to just wait a couple of weeks until he is done and out. You have a great day.
Oh let me add another name, thanks for the reminder Leto. Leto calls us ‘Trumpanzees’. Here’s one of his quotes.
“Me thinks you are right the Trumpanzzes are turning FR into a sewer.”
Oh the irony.
Wouldn’t necessarily agree with you that Levin is sane.
Cruz and Rubio are more conservative than Trump. Trump and Cruz are anti-establishment compared to Rubio. Trump is more nationalist than Cruz and Rubio.
The question is, given these factors, if you have 100 Cruz voters, and Cruz withdraws from the race, how many go to Trump and how many go to Rubio?
You've got a point there. I'm all in for Trump but still - Cruz has been very helpful overall for the conservative cause. We should not celebrate his downfall and support him in future endeavers. It's just a Trump year, people are ticked and Trump reflects that.
Beck’s beloved 5000 Year Leap author and constitutional expert says foreign born is not NBC. Are you saying Glenn’s guy is wrong?
One day when you’re not so emotionally involved I would hope that you think about the long term implications of allowing anyone to run. Country over.
So if doesn’t matter, why do Trump liars keep bringing it up?
You brought it up, not me.
Many of the Cruzbots voted for S Forbes in the primaries over Bush and voted against Bush I when he ran against Reagan.
Some are more discerning than others..
Like you are nice yourself. I can’t wait until Trump funds Planned Parenthood again. The hypocrisy on your side equals the democrats. There will be two democrats running for president this year - the democrat ticket and the republican ticket.
Hypocrisy? Like calling yourself a consistent conservative after campaigning for Barack Obama’s trade agenda? Like having a Super PAC taking millions in anonymous, money laundered donations? That kind of consistent conservative?
Fact is this rotten Congress isn’t going to defund PP. Cruz knows that but that doesn’t stop him from cynically manipulating primary voters. Buy a clue. He’s using you to advance his career.
At least here Trump supporters are quite pragmatic. We want a wall and a stop to unfair trade. I honestly see few people is anointing Trump. His support is very much issues oriented: trade and immigration.
It’s the Cruzies and their “Saint Raphael of Goldman can do no wrong” that are the real hypocrites here. And you prove it with your attacks on Trump while being silent to Cruz’s documented issues.
If you are honest, you will admit you Trumpsters have been very mean, too. The vile stench that has been thrown this way is very much present. Please don’t pretend your side is innocent.
The “vile stench” started back when Senator Cruz dishonestly campaigned for Barack Obama’s trade agenda for over a month before changing his vote at the last minute. Not surprisingly you’re fine with Senator “true conservative” enabling the most lawless POTUS in history. Sorry, many conservatives are not and that is when Cruz began to lose a lot of FReeper suppport. Cruz made his bed and now has to lay in it. Deal with it.
To my FRiends.
I didn’t mean to hijack this thread with my observation regarding the “joy” expressed in Cruz’s tumble. I will say that the responses have been encouraging in that the responses have been overwhelmingly on point, sane and insightful. That goes for those that agreed and disagreed with my point of view.
FreeRepublic remains the best conservative forum on the web.
Oldplayer
Cushing, Oklhaoma
It’s the “Conservative Shaming” that created my animus. Everyone supporting, and associated with Ted Cruz was engaged in it.
It’s just another version of “Holier than thou” and the reaction of all people will always be the same.
That’s correct and it started when Ted Cruz campaigned with Paul Ryan for the kenyan’s secret trade deals. Cruz walked on water here until he pulled that stunt.
You misunderstand me. It matters. It is just probably going to work out that further action will not be needed. I will not be voting for Cruz again because of this if he runs for the Senate in 2018. Others can act as they see fit.
They’re unable to hear what’s actually being said. I very well doubt PP would get funded because there is a caveat in there. If you look closely, PP gets funded if they abandon doing abortions. Think that will ever happen? When said like this, it prevents an all our war with PP. It’s not time for that fight. Gotta win first.
Hmmmm. Seems like this is a line straight out of Trumps mouth. Do you or he have any ACTUAL experience of the Senators and their feelings toward each other or is that just blowin smoke?
Cruz has lost Senate votes 99-1 when not a single Senator would second his motion to speak. Apparently, unprecedented in Senate history. The 99 dirtbags and one saint talking point is not working for 3rd Place Teddy. I suggest you take another angle, FRiend.
I was commenting on the desire of DaveW to have unborn children killed in order to punish people who support Trump.
I wonder how many unborn children DaveW would need to be killed in order to bring balance?
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