Ted Cruz Might Be The Real Winner In New Hampshire

Daily Caller ^ | 02/10/2016 | Matt Lewis

[justlittleoleme]

My gut (and let’s be fair, almost every analyst was united on this one) turned out to be correct; Rubio’s momentum coming out of Iowa was effectively killed on Saturday.

-snip-

What is more, the fact that non-affiliated voters are allowed to vote in the primaries rewards candidates who are perceived as moderate and authentic.

But here’s the thing: Maybe I’ll be proven wrong, but I’m skeptical Kasich can replicate this in other states where conservative voters matter a lot more in primaries.

-snip-

My guess is that Tuesday night will be the highlight of Kasich’s 2016 campaign.

So the really interesting point is that I think the big winner of the night is Ted Cruz . The primaries are about to head South, which is Cruz country. Unlike other Evangelical candidates who win Iowa but can’t parlay that into more, Cruz’s respectable finish in New Hampshire demonstrates that he’s not simply a regional candidate.

If you think about what happened on Tuesday night, Cruz swapped a serious rival (Rubio) for a guy who likely is a one-hit wonder (Kasich). That’s a trade he will take every day and twice on Sundays. Because the “establishment” lane is now muddled and muddy (even Jeb Bush is looking better these days!), there is a real danger that mainstream conservative voters could begin to coalesce around Cruz as the best, last hope to stop Donald Trump.

We’re not quite there yet. There’s still a chance that someone else could emerge. Maybe Rubio pulls out a surprise win in South Carolina? It ain’t over till it’s over. But we are getting dangerously close to entering a stage where it becomes a Trump vs. Cruz race.

[justlittleoleme]

If it becomes a Trump vs Cruz race it will be a good thing, what could be dangerous about that?

last night may have been the establishment's last stand.

I agree, I think that Kasich is a one hit wonder here, but I find the new Kasich Fruit Ninja oddly entertaining....

No I do not think 3rd place = 1st place in New Hampshire.

I believe Cruz had a solid showing in an open primary in one of the most liberal voting states in the US. Listening to the news yesterday he wasn't even mentioned in alot of the commentators' list of who they thought would place in the top 3. It was like they would pretend Cruz didn't even exist.

Congrats to the Trump supporters on New Hampshire. It was a solid win. On to South Carolina!

[rktman]

I thought yeb boosh won. /s

[massgopguy]

What is it about 3rd place finishers that makes them take Victory Laps? “Danica Patrick almost wins Indy 500”. Yes, that was a real headline several years ago.

[DungeonMaster]

Ted Cruz Might Be The Real Winner In New Hampshire

Yeah and Hillary too.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

This idiot writer didn’t even bother to look at the exit polls, before he started complaining about unaffiliated voters giving Trump the win. Trump dominated every demographic to the point that even if you took all those people out and left only the most conservative voters in, then Trump would have still won New Hampshire.

[andy1954]

NO, Trump was the real winner last night. If I had to pick between Cruz and Trump, I would go with Cruz. But he can’t beat Trump and I still believe that Ted Cruz would be our poorest general election candidate. I don’t see it. I could be wrong, I have been before.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

Carly was also a big winner, she beat Carson handily. Also meaningless though. Thanks for the congratulations. The battle will now come down to Bush vs. Trump in very short order. Please help us defeat the establishment Bush Dynasty.

[stratboy]

Truly delusional. He barely beats Bush and loses to Kasich and the author calls it a win? Baghdad Bob moment?

[Old Retired Army Guy]

I don’t know who thinks Cruz can prevail in Dixie. I live in South Alabama and I would bet the farm that Trump will carry the State and probably every Southern State with the possible exception of Texas, which is Cruz’s home State. Kasich will flame out in South Carolina, but the guy who will hang around will probably be Bush.

[samtheman]

The morons are really out in force.

Let me make it simple, even for those with IQs below 50, like the writer of this article:

TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.
TRUMP WON THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE IN NH.

[DouglasKC]

Cruz will do well in South Carolina but Trump pulls in conservatives plus non-conservatives. My prediction is Trump by 10%.

[VanDeKoik]

And what about Gilmore?

I think he just won the general election because....reasons.

Everyone gets a trophy!

[odawg]

Why is it that there are so many articles coming out today that are trying to figure out who won in New Hampshire?

[rktman]

gopE still refusing to take Donald seriously maybe? Brokered convention? They think the natives are PO’d now..............

[NKP_Vet]

Trump wins because he’s a no BS alpha male in a race with a bunch of babies as he would say.

[Grampa Dave]

Truly delusional. He barely beats Bush and loses to Kasich and the author calls it a win? Baghdad Bob moment?

Baghdad Bob says, Cruz really won NH! Trump lost big time!

[dartuser]

Ted Cruz Might Be The Real Winner In New Hampshire

Kinda like the real winner of the Super Bowl was the Carolina Panthers.

[usafa92]

Exactly correct. Trump dominated everything. All groups, incomes, ideologies, male, female. It was a historic blowout. What was interesting is that Trump absolutely dominated independents something like 46-6. Cruz cannot and will not win them. Trump even won conservatives and I believe evangelicals in NH. Ted is a regional candidate with some national appeal but not enough to win. SC is not as conservative as the Cruzers would like. There are a lot of northern transplants there and the territory will be friendly to Trump. Trump will win SC big. Very big.

[annieokie]

It was like they would pretend Cruz didn't even exist.""""....

Same treatment this morning.......not one mention of Cruz, but did speak with Bush.

I didn't know the win, place or show positions until this morning, they only had a sign up to show the results, with no mention of Cruz.......