Cruz has a lot riding on a win in Iowa, moreso than Trump or Rubio.
I disagree that Cruz has more riding on Iowa than Trump.
I know the Trump supporters here have spent tons of time innoculating against a Trump loss (no big deal) vs a Cruz loss (game ender).
It’s just not true.
Iowa from a delegate count perspective means little. It’s important for how it sets the table going forward.
A Cruz loss will be very bad but certainly not terminal for Cruz. The field will clear before the delegate count gets going in earnest and it will be a 3 man, or possibly, a 2 man race. Cruz’ whole strategy has been to get to a two man race. If Rubio remains viable, he’ll run interference for Trump at that point. That wasn’t the original intent of Rubio’s campaign, but that’s where he is. If he were smart, Rubio would turn the art of a deal with Trump and turn his position into a VP nomination.
For Trump, a loss tomorrow is equally as bad, but still not terminal. Trump’s whole campaign is based on being a winner. See, winners aren’t losers. Unless they are. A Trump loss pokes a decent if not fatal hole in his aura of effective deal-making invincibility. If Trump isn’t invincible, then he’s very beatable. If he loses Iowa, he’s not invincible. It goes to the heart of his argument.
Iowa is supremely important for both candidates.