I love Ted too, and have donated five times to his campaign. I also voted for him in the series of elections in Texas which sent him to the U.S. Senate.
I'd love nothing better than to see him elevated to U.S. President in the next election, but I've got to temper those wishes with a strong dose of Reality.
Frankly, he hasn't been in the national eye long enough for most Americans to know him the way we Freepers do. If they know anything about him at all, it's that he did a 21 hour filibuster in the Senate, and talked about 'green eggs and ham'. Most have no idea how talented he is, or what an incredible record of public service he has.
But they sure know a lot about Donald Trump, and the message he's delivering is a pitch perfect segue to everything they already know about the man and his personal history. He's got a decades long reputation as the quintessential Boss who calls the shots, and is a winner of high stakes games. The attraction is practically irresistible, when we're talking about people choosing a new leader. He's a perfect fit at the most basic level.
In my view, the Republican field, including Ted Cruz, are all faced with moving an immovable mountain, in the form of Donald Trump. He brings things to the table that none of them possess, and can't hope to develop over the course of the primary. About the best they can hope for, is for Trump to destroy himself, because the political establishment nor the media can lay a glove on him.