I think this is a very smart thing for Cruz to say, and it shows tremendous leadership qualities. It’s the Brietbart thing to say (see tagline). If the Tea Party is to take the reins of govt, and lead the way, it will have to take the rein of Romney and lead the way for him too. Clearly, we know Romney is NOT a conservative, and is NOT a Tea Party kind of guy, but the up and coming movers and shakers have to somehow get a grip on the GOP-E, and then, taking a word back from the left, transform it/them.
You may be right...and I love your optimism. As a conservative I’ve been “played” every election cycle, which is understandable as an admitted member of an extreme minority. I’m old enough now to know the destructiveness of holding your nose at election time. Take High Speed Rail or the freight train, they both get you to the same destination.
Romney will be looking for such people to get things started and to keep the ball rolling.
It will be interesting to watch Cruz and see what he turns out to be. With the GOP's progressive drift to join the left, they have created a political vacuum that must be filled.