Here’s something to consider: The nominee for president has absolutely no authority to do anything other than run for office.
The stuff you are upset about - it grants no power.
You’re very flippant in your considerations when it involves how/why/where and by what mechanisms Ted Cruz runs for President. It is technically true that the Constitution doesn’t apply specific powers to a nominee except that they meet the eligibility requirements.
The point of my post was not about nominations, nor was it about Cruz; it was about what form of government this is and how the blanket denial that the US is a form of democratic government because staid contrarians like to use Republic completely refusing to even consider its ‘democratic’ aspects. I provided a reference to back up my assertion. You give me flak and say I was upset and implied that it (whatever that is you mean - I’ll assume it’s the Constitution) grants no power ?
The candidates are running for President and through the tenet of shared sovereignty, power and responsibilities, the Constitution cedes election running to the states. Most states use at least the semblance of citizen voter input to select convention delegates, and there are a few whose political parties act like Union leaders, doing what they damned well want with no voter input. Technically permissible but spiritually tyrannical in my opinion.
Thank goodness the Electoral College Electors are supposed vote based on citizen votes. 26 of the states even have “faithless voter” laws.
Finally, since you seem to be enamored that “it” grants no power to a nominee, it does require that the nominee if elected President do several things:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_ed_marti_070621_the_twelve_powers_of.htm