What Ted Cruz has to do to win the White House

El Paso, Inc. ^ | March 30, 2015 | Jonathan Martin, The New York Times

[2ndDivisionVet]

When Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas declared his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election last Monday, he became the first to do so officially. Here is a look at what he will need to do if he hopes to win.

The coalition

To win the Republican nomination, Cruz will have to bring together the party’s anti-establishment wing, which is made of separate but overlapping voter blocs, including Christian conservatives, libertarians and Tea Party voters angry with the leadership of both parties.

His ultimate goal is to get into a one-on-one campaign against whoever emerges as the favorite of establishment Republicans. To do this, he must find a way to stand out in a crowded lane of conservative hopefuls.

In a general election, Cruz would not attempt to win over centrist voters as much as he would try to galvanize conservatives who did not vote in recent elections because they were dissatisfied with the choices.

The map

Cruz’s primary prospects depend on a strong performance in Iowa or South Carolina, both of which include substantial numbers of Christian conservatives. If he is unable to win one of those early states, or at least be one of the top conservatives in the states that begin the nominating process, he will have a difficult time surviving into next March, when there is likely to be a rapid succession of contests.

Against a Democrat, Cruz would look to perform better than Mitt Romney in some of the Midwestern states among so-called Reagan Democrats, the heavily Catholic bloc of blue-collar voters who left their ancestral party to back Ronald Reagan, and evangelical voters.....

[Hardens Hollow]

“Walker has the better resume, Cruz has the better debating and presentation skills. Either would make a fine POTUS. “

Perhaps. But I’m waving my pom poms for Cruz.

I will never vote for a pro-amnesty candidate. And last minute conversions are disingenuous. Anyone who thinks our laws are important will never be pro-amnesty and that makes me question their ethics.

I escaped Mexifornia recently. Had to leave a beautiful state and take a much lowered income to move back the US. But it is well worth it as I love my new home and being around Americans. But the ruin of the border states is a direct result of illegals. This will be coming to the rest of the US with a pro-amnesty president - and I have no where else to move to. My mission here, that I’ve taken on, it to tell everyone I meet about the evils of illegal immigration and the ruin of our country and way of life. So far, I’ve found nobody here that disagrees with me.

[Vigilanteman]

I hear you. I grew up in the Midwest so I somewhat understand the welcoming attitude toward illegals who come to work because not very many of the gang banger variety go to places like Wisconsin and even fewer stay once the thermometer dips below zero.

But I also understand California because I lived there as well, my wife is from there and has no desire to go back. That's why Ted Cruz is my first choice.

But I still hope Scott Walker quickly educates himself on the facts of life under massive illegal colonization.

[Hardens Hollow]

“But I still hope Scott Walker quickly educates himself on the facts of life under massive illegal colonization. “

You have more optimism than I do. I think DC corrupts, and once a lukewarm conservative goes there, they become even more tepid.

Cruz has proven he can not only stand firm on conservative principles in DC, but fight like a tiger for them.

But I’m willing to listen to the debates and see how they play out. But I am SO tired of being stabbed in the back, repeatedly.

[Din Maker]

Winning a Senate seat in Texas, a reliably “red” state, is a bit different from winning votes in the swing states.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NO IT’S NOT!! I am one Texan who is tired of hearing that crap. It’s not different. He ran against a big-money, 25 year entrenched, Texas millionaire, politician, who was endorsed by all the Texas newspapers, the Governor and all the GOP Establishment “big-wigs” and CRUZ KICKED HIS ASS WITH NOTHING BUT A RAG-TAG, GRASS-ROOTS ARMY OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION AND TRADITIONAL, AMERICAN VALUES! Do not underestimate Ted Cruz.

[Little Ray]

I am happy Cruz overcame such odds, but I still think that says something about Texas, and the judgement of Texas voters. They were able to discern the genuine from the fake.

I don’t know if we can hope for the same things from swing states like Florida and Ohio.

[lafroste]

Are you nuts?!? Cruz is 44 YO. If Walker were “25 years” younger, Walker would be 19. Get a grip.

[American Constitutionalist]

I don’t know about anyone else, but Ted Cruz looks like a young Senator Joseph Mcarthey.

[CyberAnt]

LOL That’s exactly what I was thinking.

[BeauBee]

I beg to differ with you on that one, They lost because of gross cheating in several states, Florida, Pa, Ohio, when 150% of the registered voters all vote Democrat, with no Republican votes? And just where did they get the extra 50% of registered voters? Even an idiot can see that is gross cheating. There were many reports of machines registering a vote as Democrat, when the person had voted Republican.
I am glad I live in a small enough community to still vote on paper!