The problem with the Voting Public can be traced back to the Nixon - Kennedy Debates. The first Presidential Debates ever Televised.
Those who listened to the Debate on the Radio thought Nixon won hand’s down. Those that watched it on Television thought Kennedy won hands down.
Optics, optics, optics. The other issue is that Cruz’s voice grates on some People just as Palin’s or even Hillary’s voice grates on some People.
We must look outside the FR Bubble if we have any hope of understanding the typical American Voter.
I say this as a Cruz Supporter with Trump as my second choice, so I don’t have a Dog in the hunt for those who want to refute my Opinion. I believe the facts side with me in this situation, like it or not.
Heck, even FR Members can’t agree on things and we all are Political Junkies who rely on fact based information.
I just don't think he does that well on TV.
You are right. It is similar to Nixon and Kennedy in 1960.
What is little known about the 1960 debates is that there were 4 debates in total.
In the first debate, Kennedy rehearsed camera angles, makeup and lighting with the CBS people in the afternoon. Nixon was out campaigning in the afternoon. Nixon was tired and his appearance and demeanor made him look bad. Thus Kennedy won the first TV debate among TV watchers. Nixon won among those who listened on the radio.
But what is not said was that Nixon won the other three debates on both TV and the radio.