” ... Cruz apparently alienated so many, even to the point of getting Rand Paul (whom I’m not fond of but who could be an ally) to be his enemy.”
Sure; Paul would be a natural ally of Cruz’s, except on some minor issues like abortion, immigration, national defense, ... Paul is a libertarian at his core, and his stated positions on these and other matters have “evolved” only because of his cynical (and failed) attempt to attract mainstream conservatives during his campaign for the Republican nomination.
So you attract him on issues you can—eliminating Export/Import.