That is a critical point! I live in a rust belt swing state. Most folks I talk to fit the Reagan Democrat profile. And most are excited about Trump. But no one talks about Cruz. Heck, few of them even know who Cruz is.
If anyone but Trump gets the GOP nomination, those folks will drift back to pulling the (D) level, just like their grandparents did.
Note that I'm making no argument about Trump's ideology. I'm just saying he's got lots of good mojo going for him in my neck of the woods.
We live in a liberal hotbed in the foothills near Seattle. Lots of people around here are either excited about Trump or fearful if they support Hillary or Bernie. Most of them have no clue who Cruz even is. Cruz will never be more than a fringe candidate.
Cruz has no charisma, proven leadership abilities, and is known for his disagreeable personality. His eligibility would be challenged by the Democrats and a sympathetic media if by some far fetched miracle he become our nominee, and he would lose. His chance of forming any kind of winning coalition exists only in the minds of the self-deluded.