FIREWALL CRUMBLES: Cruz prepares for election day massacre by pulling out of Alabama events

Yellow Hammer ^

[TigerClaws]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The “southern firewall” Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign has been building for months appears to be crumbling under the weight of Donald Trump’s staying power and Marco Rubio’s resurgence.

The Cruz campaign told Yellowhammer Wednesday night they are pulling out of the Presidential Forum set to be held at Samford University in Birmingham on Saturday, and will not be holding any other events in Alabama ahead of election day. Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign, however, reiterated their commitment to the event.

The move is one of the most open indicators to date that Cruz has failed to pick up steam in the Bible Belt South, once believed to be his geographic stronghold and his most likely path to the nomination.

Numerous southern states and almost a quarter of the Republican delegates are up for grabs in the so called SEC Primary on March 1st.

Yellowhammer CEO Cliff Sims said Cruz’s exit from the state so close to election day is unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected.

“Decisions like this are difficult for any campaign to make, but they have to do what they think is best,” he said. “Once a campaign goes into survival mode, sometimes they have to cut their losses and move resources where they can be most effective. A candidate’s time is the most valuable resource any campaign has.”

South Carolina Republican strategist Hogan Gidley said Cruz’s lackluster performance in his home state was the first public sign that Cruz’s southern strategy was not coming together.

“It does definitely put a dent into the manufactured reputation that Cruz is coalescing all conservatives,” he told National Review. “I think we can put an end to that myth.”

A longtime Alabama political consultant who is not working for a presidential campaign but has seen presidential campaign polling numbers through other state-level campaigns told Yellowhammer Cruz’s path to the nomination could be disappearing.

“If Cruz — the Texan, the staunch evangelical, the anti-Washington guy — can’t win in Alabama and across the South, he can’t win,” the consultant said on condition of anonymity so he could speak freely. “I’ve seen polling in the last week that shows Cruz in third in Alabama, far behind Trump and behind Rubio, too. It might become apparent after March 1st that Cruz’s goose is cooked.”

Senator Rubio is scheduled to be in both Birmingham and Huntsville on Saturday. Donald Trump is scheduled to be in Huntsville on Sunday. No other Republican candidates are currently scheduled to campaign in the state ahead of the March 1st primary.

[american colleen]

With you guys.

I love Trump and hope he takes it all but the negative back and forth and sometimes namecalling between FRiends is tough to see. I hate it :(

[grey_whiskers]

SNIFF. (Meow Mix)

[SteveSCH]

I think Cruz will win Texas, but Trump is ahead in the rest of those states now(save Colorado which is just a mess)

[caww]

.......”It’s strange watching the joy on FR when a true conservative, and someone who has for the most part been a champion of ours against some real slime balls, stumbles.”......

Yet in the same breath they say they would “gladly” vote for him if he came out in front. I no longer believe them....they have taken on the Trumps mantel in every respect.

I have watched Freepers going down hill I once respected....to where they even talk like Trump. It’s like loosing family members to a cult leader!

[lodi90]

The Establishment H*A*T*E*S Ted Cruz and the Tea Party. A loathing, visceral, deep seated fear and hatred of losing their political power. The GOPe fear losing their power. They think they can wheel and deal with Trump, and they know they can buy off Rubio.

They hate Cruz worse than they like Trump or Rubio.

---

Sorry, nobody fears Ted Cruz. They dislike him because he’s been running for POTUS from the moment he arrived in the beltway. Nobody likes the climber in the office.

[Just mythoughts]

So does this mean that when god was talking to Ted’s wife and dad about Ted being anointed or the guy who was going to show the face god, god was lying?

Depends on which 'god' you are talking about... there are many 'gods'... But only one Creator... Ted's problem was he talked the talk, but he hired little devils to run his campaign and got exposed.

[bigbob]

If Cruz is as good as you think he is, then he needs to go back to the Senate where he was elected to serve the people of Texax, and Dammit, serve them instead of grandstanding and running for President before he’s even finished one term or had any kind of success. Part of being “good” is to use your ears and mouth in the ratio God gave them to you and Ted’s got trouble doing that. If he does, maybe he’ll have another chance but right now he looks like all hat and no cattle to most folks.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Spin. Campaigns reorganize their schedule all the time. This is just opposition twisting for dishonest advantage.

[lewislynn]

I hope he’s not damaging himself

He only has himself to blame.

[bigbob]

Gunky Spenious
Since Feb 24, 2016

Nice of you to have the ability to make such an observation about the historical nature of FR after having been here LESS THAN ONE FRIGGIN DAY!

[jennychase]

Really, hearing from you. One of the worst offender. Always after Trump supporters.

[Catsrus]

Trump doesn’t hate Cruz - he hates the lying and dirty tricks. There is a difference. And, he has to take out his competitors one at a time. Look for him to go after Rubio hot and heavy before Florida. It’s called strategy - I guess some of you are politically naive.

[fortheDeclaration]

Rubio won’t win a single State.

[jennychase]

He and his supporters are difficult to handle anywhere. Thank God, there numbers are dwindling after straight 3 defeats.

[bray]

He will always have Iowa and Beck.

Pray America wakes

[GraceG]

Now, will the Cruzer globalists and liars please exit the building? Don’t let the FR door hit ya in the a$$ on the way out. It’s going to be great here without your bs.)

You had damned well better hope that if trump becomes potus that he doesn’t betray us all and refuse to deal with illegal aliens because if he does i will track down every trumpeter on this board and harass them every single day until they leave or sulk back under a different screen name. Believe it!!!!

I will dig into the archives and pull each and every dumbass post like the one you just posted and create a trumpeter hall of shame.

But if trump keeps his promises you’ll be fine and america will be great again.

I wish you well.

[easternsky]

Set yourself up for a big fall when you make the remarks He has made to unbelievers, not referring to Freepers as much as to the World .His pulling the whack Beck in to help him did him no favors, need to pick those we align ourselves with very wisely when claiming to be on a mission for Christ. I feel He has damaged that standing very badly, and was unintentional but happened just the same.

[JediJones]

Then by that logic Trump should actually run for senator or governor before claiming he’s qualified for the presidency. What has Trump accomplished as a political achievement? Having no term is better than one term?

[ri4dc]

Welcome to FR.
I’ve been here for a while.
I take quite a measure of exception to your Hypnosis assertion.
Perhaps you should go back to DU.
[spit]

[JoSixChip]

They hate Cruz worse than they like Trump or Rubio.

It wasn't the GOPe that did cruz in, it was the voters. No spinning that fact.