[LS]

Except Ted remains mired at 8% in most polls while the Donald reaches toward 30. Just a little thing . . .

[Cincinatus' Wife]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/259622-ted-cruz-on-the-rise-before-gop-debate

“Ted Cruz’s plan to win the Republican presidential nomination is coming together.

The Texas senator has been edging up in the polls and has a chance to drive home his advantage Tuesday night, when the fourth televised GOP debate takes place in Milwaukee.

GOP insiders say that the Tea Party ­favorite also has one of the most impressive political operations in the field. And the consensus is growing that he and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) could end up as finalists in the battle for the nomination.

In that scenario - which is dependent on the current leaders, businessman Donald Trump and retried neurosurgeon Ben Carson, fading - Cruz would emerge as the standard-bearer of the GOP’s conservative wing, while Rubio would be the establishment-friendly figure.

If it comes to that, Cruz supporters like their chances, given the insurgent mood rippling through the party’s base.

All of this might seem like an optimistic interpretation of the chances of a candidate who is in fourth place nationwide, according to the ­RealClearPolitics (RCP) polling average. But even non-aligned Republican strategists say that the Texan is right where he wants to be..................”