And you might consider being mindful to the fact people do not always “flock to leaders” as stated. Especially in an election, unless they're easily manipulated by emotionalism and ‘formulating’ just what your target audience wants to hear.....your guy is a master at this with 40 years experience obtaining and retaining his TV audiences. Cult leaders and dictators often use the same tactics because it works to “move the masses”.
I do not join up when I see those tactics being played, in fact because I know them I can identify them and how they're being used. Trump showed this the very day he announced via his exiting an elevator and descending on a escalator in his Trump Towers Lobby. (Which was pretty tacky btw), but it also showed Trump intended to "control" his environment...a must for a Narcissist. And also using his family members as his campaign team kept it under his control. I don't look for anything magical to happen in this election, but no doubt there will be some surprises along the way, and as much those announced as surprises will fail as Trumps did in Wisc. It's the nature of the game...Checkmate and all.
Summary of your post:
Cruz is a leader because...Trump!