Bottom line: The electorate is no longer Conservative enough to accept a candidate like Cruz anymore. Sad but true.
I pretty much agree with that. It would have to be a really exceptional conservative candidate or the US would have to be in much worse shape than it is now for a true Conservative to win.
I think it's much more likely that Cruz would lose to Hilary than would Trump. From where I sit in liberal Marin County, my anecdotal "evidence" is that I've heard more than a few longtime Democrats say that they like what Trump is saying about closing the border, jobs, and looking at Muslim immigration. I've heard no support voiced for Cruz.
It isn’t his conservatism that is the problem-he is!
No, actually, the electorate is sick of lying, cheating, thieving politicians which cruz has proven himself to be on more than one occasion and that is why the electorate won't accept him.