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Potent and poignant points FRiend.

This IS a spiritual battle and while I like both Cruz and Trump, I find it a bit off-putting when Cruz rallies seem to either begin or end up in some sort of 'come-to-Jesus' moment with calls to "put on the full armor of God", and just this past week Cruz said "I believe the key to winning in 2016 is very simple: we have to bring back the millions of evangelical voters who stayed home. We have to awaken and energise the body of Christ." (emphasis mine, mkj).

Now no one is more in favor of energizing the body of Christ than I am, but whether we like it or not, the kind of talk Cruz is engaging in is not smart politics. It may win him Iowa and perhaps it could even wrest the nomination away from Trump and carry him into the general election, however the evangelistic fervor he is generating (and presumably would continue to generate) will end up polarizing the electorate and you can bet the rent that the 'RATs will portray Cruz as the second coming of Jimmy Swaggert, or Jim Bakker along with all of the negative aspects of those flawed preachers.

Can Cruz (or ANY candidate) win the general election by casting themselves in this fashion? To those spiritually born again (such as you and I), such talk from the campaign trail is music to our ears but to the larger numbers of voters who do NOT see the issues in stark good vs evil or light vs darkness, that talk will send them running, not walking to the exit and into the welcoming secular arms of the 'RATs.

Now Donald Trump is certainly no religious fire and brimstone type however he has repeatedly proclaimed his own belief in God, lifelong Presbyterian, has stated many times that he would "be the strongest advocate for Christians" as President, he believes in the Judeo-Christian principles that our Nation was founded on and made America great. But Trump also knows that in order to win the Presidency, he needs MORE than the votes of conservative Christians and that is why his ability to attract crossover votes from the latter day manifestation of the old 'Reagan Democrats' positions him in a stronger position for the general election than I believe Cruz would hold.

Make no mistake, I admire and support much of what Ted Cruz advocates and has done thus far, however it remains unproven if his political approach will "win the battle (nomination) and win the war (general election)" or just "win the battle".

Trump has demonstrated many times that he thinks many moves ahead of his adversaries and that is why he continues to be the man to beat, Cruz is impressive in his skills, no question of it. But the real critical question is whether Cruz can pivot from the nomination battle to the general election final confrontation with the 'RATs and win the day. Trump can do that. Cruz?

It remains to be seen.

Good thread over here

Cruz blew it on legal and illegal immigration. If this nation survives in a manner such as I grew up with, it will take a head-ripper like Trump to pull it off. None of the others stand a chance . NONE of them.

Thanks for the interesting comments. I agree with your thoughts.