[SteveH]

Under the notion, all senators should recuse themselves because any of them might end up running for president (such as Garfield in 1880).

[Cboldt]

I think the Cruz situation is distinguishable, just because he was born abroad, and his claim to NBC is not near as solid as he makes it out to be.

But see my previous post in this thread. The call for recusal at this point is just political rhetoric. Cruz could have as a "favorable vote" criteria that the judge must accept Cruz's side of the case; and for arguments sake, assume the case exists, and is on SCOTUS docket for decision. Cruz can still vote to approve the nominee. It is up to the judge to recuse, not to the "judge selector."