You know, Cruz is no slouch when it comes to challenging the media either, in fact, he did quite well putting the media in its place during the second debate, and that is when his polling numbers started to rise. Not being bombastic does not equate to not being effective. Reagan flew over the head of the media directly to the electorate, in a subtle, folksy, and often humorous manner. His demeanor, in no uncertain terms, could be likened to Trump's cavalier manner. What is required, regardless of style, is the courage to speak the truth, and not be concerned with media acceptance or who's cocktail parties one might get disinvited from. Cruz has this, and with a surge in the polls and a national platform, this will bear out.
Keep an eye out for who the GOPe attacks (WSJ, for example). They are a better indicator of who the uniparty fears, more so than the leftist media, who focus their attack on anything conservative that is leading in the polls, be it person or policy.
Yes, he is.
The media and the electorate today are nowhere near as subtle today as they were in Reagan's day. Ronaldus Magnus taught the media a lesson they never forgot.
Comparing Cruz to Trump in the "media war" is a bolt-action to a battle-rifle.