The GOPe (and other partisan political entities) understands that Free Republic IS a major hub of conservative thought, and while they may not mention JimRob very often, they know that he's like those old E.F. Hutton commercials, "When JimRob talks, FReepers listen".
FR receives substantial visits every day, however the links here from outside (Alexa) and other mapping sites, are the impressive numbers.
Here is some interesting reading and why these links are important.
COINTELPRO Techniques for dilution, misdirection and control of a internet forum..
Here is also the man the Cruz campaign hired early on to handle social media and the internet.
Daniel Gabriel
He was the guy that started the
Carson rumor.
There are "True Believers" who will never see Cruz for what he really is and then there are the operatives. I don't feel bad when the operatives are outed. I feel bad that they will be back under another screen name,