Posted on 03/02/2016 12:04:33 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
In winning Texas by 16 points, winning Oklahoma, winning (as of this writing) Alaska, and finishing second in Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota, and Tennessee, Ted Cruz has now solidified his grip on second place in the GOP presidential race. He increased his lead over Marco Rubio in states won, votes won, and delegates won--and unless Rubio can win in Florida in two weeks (or John Kasich can win in Ohio), Cruz may soon be battling Donald Trump one-on-one (more or less) for the Republican nomination. But how can Cruz beat Trump?
The number-one thing that needs to be undone from the Obama presidency also happens to be one of the things that Trump knows the least about and on which he has the least-reliable impulses. That thing, of course, is Obamacare. It is not only the centerpiece legislation of Obama's presidency, but opposition to it unites Republican voters across the party more than perhaps any other issue. Trump is extremely suspect on it. But it's hard for Cruz to frame Trump as particularly unreliable on Obamacare when Cruz himself has yet to offer a clear plan to get to repeal. But that could potentially change overnight.
If Cruz were to advance a general-election-ready alternative, it would quench GOP voters' six-year thirst. It would widen and deepen Cruz's appeal with the GOP electorate. And it would elevate the issue of Obamacare to its rightful place in the race--to Cruz's benefit.
Anyone who thinks, like Trump does, that socialized medicine "works incredibly well" in Scotland, that he's going to "take care of everybody" and "the government's gonna pay for it," and that the remedy for Obamacare's 2,400 pages of federal largess is to lock the experts in a room and let them figure out a solution, is profoundly vulnerable on Obamacare. But no one without a general-election-ready Obamacare alternative can effectively prosecute that case.
With his big Texas win in hand, perhaps Cruz will now decide to up the ante on Obamacare. If he does, it could change the dynamics of the race overnight.
OK. Just so long as Cristofaris Crux does not end up our next President.
I was for Ted, then the last couple of weeks and that debate turned me off an dhow he got cozy with the open border Rubio.
OK Fair enough, but that speech last night wanting others to drop out and beat Trump , but nothing about Clinton disgusted me.
Cruz has petitioned the RNC to hold the Texas primary every week.
From the comments here today I’d say both sides think they are moving to the white house so lets be fair .
If I were a Cruz supporter, I wouldn't see how that's anything to get excited over.
"Second place is just the first place loser."
Dale Earnhardt
We are going to find out. That is what elections are for.
Just goes to show how stupid they know Cruz supporters are. These scumbags have absolutely no respect for the majority of Americans who voted for Trump yesterday. They care not for democratic process or decency. Just goes to show you why they are in bed with Cruz (for now, until they get rid of Trump...then they will turn on Cruz).
what does Laz think about her?
“He picked up 125 delegates last night. That is not too bad.”
Actually, I believe he picked up 209 delegates last night, which was only about 30 less than Trump.
Cruz needs to get voters thinking differently. As long as they are voting based on anger, the man who will kick down everything in DC is going to beat him.
It’s tricky, but his current approach is not doing the job. I suspect that directly attacking Trump also would not do it in this election year, I’m not sure what would - if anything. Perhaps being the last man standing would allow Cruz to beat Trump, but that’s the hope that Rubio and Kasich are clinging to also.
There were a few Trumpsters here last night who were forecasting Donald would win Texas.
Given all of the free airtime extended to Trump, the media’s ostrich-like ignorance of Trump’s liberalism, and attacks on Cruz as an extremist, it is remarkable that Cruz has done as well as he has.
The Media Research Center reports that Trump’s campaign is “being fueled almost entirely by free TV air time.” Most of that coverage ignores Trump’s liberal connections and policies.
MRC also notes, “On the night before Super Tuesday voting, the networks obsessed over Trump with more than 15 minutes of coverage, compared to just two for Rubio and less than a minute for Cruz.”
The liberal media and Republican establishment continually strive to diminish Sen. Ted Cruz, portraying him as an extremist and a loser. Super Tuesday was obviously a win for Trump. But Cruz was a winner, too. Cruz defied media and establishment expectations and limited Rubio to a single victory.
IIRC, Bush won Texas with 88% of the vote.
No, Cruz and Carson need to get out and urge their base to support Trump, if they do not, Trump is not going to get over the 50% threshhold in 8 states, and we will then have a brokered convention, no matter how many delegates Trump has. Then say hello to nominee Jeb Bush, who has only suspended his campaign not withdrawn. Keep in mind, that it is very likely that both Rubio and Cruz will have their delegates taken away from them because of eligibility issues, and those delegates will go to Bush. The elites are making sure that the delegates are not going to be loyal to their candidates. We must unit behind one candidate, we must, or it will be a repeat of last time.
Well ... they say he ‘solidified’ his hold on ‘2nd place’. Ain’t that sumptin?
Is there like a prize or something for ‘2nd place’?
Being “not as big a loser as we all thought” does not equate to being a winner.
Cruz remains the #1 loser.
Thanks, but I don’t think yours is the best path for DJT. Carson is out, I regret to hear.
Gee I wonder where she got the idea for this cover?
Can anyone say, 50 Shades of Grey?
Meh... I’ll admit she is hot , and it’s good way to sell her books.
“Before this you Trumpeters were saying he couldn’t win anything but Iowa. Now he has and you guys ridicule that.”
The Evangelicals and Conservatives are going to Trump. That alone says it all.
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.