Shock? Not really. The winner of Iowa always gets a bump, but Cruz is heading into one of his weakest states. His trouncing there will bring him back down to earth. In fact, he may come out of NH in 5th or 6th place nationally.
“The winner of Iowa always gets a bump”
Read the article. Cruz did not get a bump. Rubio, the 3rd place winner, got the bump. Trump just lost a huge lead and now it is a statistical tie.
“His trouncing there will bring him back down to earth”
Don’t hold your breathe for that. Nobody expects Cruz to win in liberal NH. NH doesn’t matter with only 23 delegates. Only a liberal like Trump has a chance there. The pressure is not on Cruz; it is on Trump. Even if Trump wins, but Trump doesn’t win by the 20-26% that he is polling then Trump will be toast because it will be more proof that Trump’s support is weak in liberal States and even weaker in conservative States.
I think Cruz will lose NH because that state has filled up with Scott Brown, milquetoast, Mass Republicans. SC is the real test. I don’t think Trump will win it though. I think it will be Rubio. Which will send Trump into full psycho mode and he might literally shoot disabled vets on 5th Ave.