Posted on 11/25/2015 8:48:15 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Though Donald Trump has been the front-runner in the GOP presidential race for months now, many political analysts still refuse to accept that he could be the party's nominee. They cope by latching on to other candidates who appear to be surging in the polls, and theorizing about how they could eventually topple the reality-show character holding the GOP hostage. After Scott Walker dropped out of the race, it was Marco Rubio's turn to be the savvy pick for front-runner. Then pundits had to consider the troubling possibility that they'd shake Trump, but get left with Ben Carson.
Rubio is still the most popular choice, though he's yet to consolidate support among establishment Republicans, but thanks to two polls out of Iowa, now there's another alternative: Ted Cruz.
Some, like Slate's Jamelle Bouie and the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza, made the argument for Cruz as a plausible nominee a few weeks ago, but he earned widespread attention this week when CBS News and Quinnipiac polls showed him in second place among likely Iowa Caucus participants. CBS has Trump at 30 percent, Cruz at 21 percent, and Carson at 19 percent. In the Quinnipiac poll, Trump has 25 percent, Cruz has 23 percent, Carson has 18 percent, and Rubio has 13 percent. A month ago that survey had Carson in the lead at 28 percent and Cruz in fourth at 10 percent.
That was enough to make Bill Kristol declare on Tuesday, "Cruz could well win in Iowa. That certainly would make him one of the final three or four [GOP candidates]. Things can change so quickly as we know, but if you have to look now you've got to say it looks like Trump, Cruz, Rubio and maybe Carson."
Cruz has a very well-organized operation; he has 100,000 volunteers nationwide and he's raised more money than any candidates except Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton. The Texas senator has been fighting Carson for evangelical voters, and it looks like he benefited the most from the neurosurgeon's recent stumbles regarding foreign policy and assaulting family members.
The Post's Paul Waldman laid out Cruz's path to victory:
As Carson fades, Cruz keeps winning support in Iowa, where evangelical voters are a dominant force. He wins the caucus on February 1, winding up on the front page of every newspaper and in demand by every TV station. That vaults him up to second or third in the New Hampshire primary, which takes place a week later. Then the campaign moves south, for the South Carolina primary on February 20, a brief detour to Nevada on the 23rd, and then Super Tuesday on March 1st, which will include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, and Cruz’s home state of Texas — southern states with lots of evangelical voters where he could do very well.
But he also acknowledged that there are some serious hurdles for Cruz — like the fact that he's despised by both Democrats and Republicans in Washington, and "If he somehow won the nomination, it would be a disaster for the party to rival Barry Goldwater’s defeat in 1964."
The Atlantic's David A. Graham says a perceived Cruz surge might actually help Rubio consolidate support. "If Cruz continues to gain altitude, it might lead GOP leaders to rally around Rubio because they dislike Cruz — or because they fear he’d be a much weaker general-election candidate," Graham writes. But in the meantime, Team Rubio seems concerned by Cruz's newfound popularity. A Rubio backer is behind this new Iowa TV ad that accuses Cruz of "leading from behind" on foreign policy.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
And while Cruz has refused to criticize Trump in an effort to endear himself to the billionaire's supporters, it looks like he's changing strategy. In the past few days, he criticized Trump's proposed Muslim registry and rejected his fellow candidates' aggressive response to the Paris attacks. "Tone matters," Cruz, told the Associated Press. "Are there some in the Republican Party whose rhetoric is unhelpful with regard to immigration? Yes."
Salon found Cruz's effort to cast himself as a moderate laughable, especially since he suggested a religious test for Syrian refugees hoping to enter the U.S. However, portraying himself as a candidate who's tough on foreign policy, and can express his views forcefully without sounding unhinged, may work for Cruz — at least until someone else surges into the role of Trump's primary rival.
Ted Cruz is our best chance to win in 2016 against Hillary. Trump is a Liberal Democrat who is running as a Republican in name only. In time, I believe people will began to examine Trump’s past history and realize he is a Liberal. Trump should be judged by his past actions and beliefs. Cruz is the only true conservative.
I would prefer Cruz, but Trump, Trump/Cruz, or Cruz/Trump would be acceptable.
The problem right now is to sweep away the posers, the mediocre, and non-hackers like Carson, Christie, Rubio, Kasich, and particularly the moron, Bush the lesser, who are sure-fire losers.
Is Ted Cruz the candidate that can beat Donald Trump? No ! The only candidate that can beat Donald Trump is Donald Trump and he just may do that sooner or later. At some point in time, I see candidates like Kasich, Bush, Fiorina and a couple of non starters dropping out and their votes going to Rubio. That will leave Trump, Rubio, Carson and Cruz. From that group, Carson will be the first to go and trump will be next. That will leave Cruz and Rubio in a faceoff which Rubio will probably win. But, stand by, it is still a jump ball.
The Atlantic's David A. Graham says a perceived Cruz surge might actually help Rubio consolidate support
SOP for the Establishment. Provoke a war between the Conservatives canidate so the Liberal Republican, Rubio in this case, can win the nomination with less then a majority of the vote.
I think it’s less they “refuse to accept it” and more that they are ‘terrified he will”. That might just end the gravy train for all these worthless “experts” who have managed our country down the drain. I include all the talking heads. These guys have gotten us nothing, no matter how sweet the words sound. They all WANT the Rat/Pube conflict to continue as that’s their rice bowl. Sure the Hugh Hewitts and Rush Limbaughs talk big, but they are terrified that one group will truly win the debate. The worst thing possible for them is a calm and prosperous nation. That’s the last thing any of them want. It would mean the end of their wealth and privilege.
If the GOPe really wants to defeat Trump wouldn’t they go with the guy with the best chance to do so?
Yes.
This is a set up. They are trying to get Cruz to be the nominee and then they will make the general all about birther issues so he will lose. The would do the same with Rubio and Carson has shown he isn’t POUTS material. Logically Trump is the only candidate who can win against Hillary.
Everybody talks about who can beat Hillary. I think we are forgetting the Snake in the Grass. Mainly, the FBI Investigation. Sometime in late January, we should get a report and if Hillary is in Legal trouble, she is toast. It may be long odds, but stay tuned.
The left wants Cruz because they think (wrongly) he has large negatives that they can exploit. Their foolishness is amusing to watch. If Republicans vote for the conservative, the left gets to fail writ large in trying to smear him and America wins. Works for me.
Hillary will kick trumps ass from one end of the country to the other...quite simply she will play the vagina card and everyone but staunch conservatives will Follow right along...and you’re absolute kidding yourself if you think otherwise.
I do not care who can beat Trump, he is not in office. But, I do very much care who can restore morality in government, liberty and Constitutional rule. For that job Ted is my choice! My hope is that Trump does not beat Cruz, our best hope for the nation.
The only guy who can beat Trump at this point is Trump.
If Hillary can use this “vagina card” then why the living hell (outside of magical “you’ll see” BS we usually get) do you think Cruz stands a better chance?
Hillary will kick trumps ass from one end of the country to the other...quite simply she will play the vagina card and everyone but staunch conservatives will Follow right along...and you’re absolute kidding yourself if you think otherwise
__________________________
How will playing the vagina card (women’s issues) work for Hillary when national security, immigration & job are the dominate issues? The answer is it won’t help Hillary win & Trump will beat her handily. Don’t kid yourself!
“That will leave Cruz and Rubio in a faceoff which Rubio will probably win.”
One wonders why the MSM is being so helpful pointing out Rubio is the best one to beat Clinton.
Trump will beat HilLIARy 70-30
He will get ALL the ‘Reagan Democrats’
There will be a new term the media will be Oh So Surprised over... The Trump Democrats
Not women’s issues.... Think of her senate campaign and all the hullabaloo when lazio dared walk over to her and hand her a piece of paper. Now picture trump being the d!ck that he naturally is...hell he doesn’t even have to...every word he utters will be an attack on the poor woman. He’ll be toast at the first debate. Count on it.
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.