Posted on 12/13/2015 4:44:35 PM PST by VinL
Tuesday's GOP primary debate, airing on CNN from Las Vegas, will come hot on the heels of several Iowa polls that now have Sen. Ted Cruz, R Texas, ahead of Donald Trump and a sidelong comment from Cruz about not trusting rivals Trump or Dr. Ben Carson with the U.S. nuclear arsenal. There may be no more perfect backdrop for a Trump Cruz brawl than Las Vegas, and it's looking like viewers might actually get one.
Cruz, who sees himself as a fellow anti-establishment Republican, has avoided directly attacking Trump for months, reluctant to alienate Trump voters who might view him as an alternative should Trump lose out. "My approach, much to the frustration of media, is to bear-hug both of them [Trump and Carson] and smother them with love," Cruz said at a fundraising event in New York, according to audio leaked to the New York Times.
Cruz even went so far as to tweet out his pacific intentions on Friday, after the Times story came out:
'The Establishment's only hope: Trump & me in a cage match. Sorry to disappoint -- @realDonaldTrump is terrific. #DealWithIt 12:03 PM - 11 Dec 2015"
"Trump, meanwhile, continues to hammer away at any candidate within arm's reach, including Cruz: I was disappointed that Ted Cruz would speak behind my back, get caught, and then deny it. Well, welcome to the wonderful world of politics!"
Now, perhaps emboldened by his momentum in the polls, Cruz has responded with a little more "bear" and a little less "hug":
In honor of my friend @realDonaldTrump and good-hearted #Maniacs everywhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NjbGr2nk2c … 5:46 PM - 13 Dec 2015
This could be a hint that Cruz is cautiously pulling off his gloves. Regardless of which poll one takes as gospel, he's ahead in Iowa. The Iowa caucuses are still seven weeks away, but Cruz's coffers are full, and Cruz has been relentless in his ground campaign in the key state, doing more than 90 events there in little more than a month. A Cruz win in Iowa, say some political analysts, could be a death blow to the Trump campaign.
Or this could just be some fun ribbing between two men running for the highest office in the land. It might not make much sense for Cruz to abandon his strategy of nonconfrontation this late in the game, particularly when it's been proving so effective. Whether Trump responds with a Rickroll or a string of invectives might dictate the extent of the bloodshed on Tuesday night in Vegas.
Well, you can bet your boots that the ‘RAT CNN “moderators” will do all they can to try to instigate a battle royale between Trump and Cruz. I think they will BOTH be smart enough to not take the bait.
Agree. They’d do better keeping it cordial and remember this fight is for America rather than their egos.
Both men are too clever. I hope.
Better than another cotton ball fight between Bernie, Clinton and that other guy.
Agreed! The only ones to benefit would be the GOPeunuchs.
If I were to guess, Bush, Rubio, and others will gang up on Cruz. He's the safe one to attack. Who wants to go up against Trump and side with Obama and Clinton in defending allowing Muslim terrorists into the U.S.?
Wonder how many times the mailmans loudmouth son will interrupt and talk over the other candidates?
Will Tippy-toes shine? (Trumps shoes)?
I wouldn't be so sure......
The press would love it, but they will not tear each other apart.
They won’t even have time anyway since they are putting oxygen suckers like Kasich on the stage. :(
The network may sell this debate as a Trump/Cruz cage fight to sell more advertising, but I don’t think Ted will allow this to happen. Donald may openly insult him, and Ted will skillfully undereact.
Ted will stay on the topic of winning the party’s nomination, slugging it out publically with Donald is not the real topic. I expect Ted to maintain much control, with minimal reaction to the bluster. He will probably show light humor instead, which will enrage Donald all the more, to be gently smirked at.
That will naturally cause the opposite of what they want, and make Trump stronger. This Cruz supporter just switches to Trump.
The Rovian MO is to thin the opposition by spreading across many candidates, not concentrate it in one.
And Carly, the professional interrupter.
Oh yea. uuuugggghhhh.
Cruz is wise. Trump acts like a child. Cruz won’t get into it. The Donald won’t be able to help himself.
Cruz is exactly where he wants to be. He’s planned every moved brilliantly. He’s standing on center stage. I can’t wait to see the debate on Tuesday.
I would not take any bets on it.
“I hope not. I know Cruz doesn’t want the confrontation. I hope the Donald feels the same. It only helps the Gop-e.”
As far as I’m concerned, Cruz and Trump have goodwill and capital built up at this point, largely accumulated by making smart moves. Neither has squandered any of it to date. Depending on how this plays out, it could be strike one against one of them, should they get egged on by the media and decide to play their cards wrong. Should be interesting.
With 9 on stage, it probably won’t be much. This is just an attempt to gin up viewership.
Dirtbags
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