“state any plausible scenario whereby Ted Cruz limps into the GOP convention with, at best, 700 delegates or so, and magically seizes the nomination from Donald Trump without irreparably splintering the party, destroying voter enthusiasm, inducing countless Trump voters to stay home, and guaranteeing a Hillary victory in November.”
I don’t think Cruz has a shot of winning without most Trump supporters getting behind him. How can he do that? I don’t see how.
But I do think Cruz could run for Trump’s VP. If Trump does not get to 1237, Cruz could negotiate for that spot.
Of course, I have no idea if he is willing to do that, or if Trump is willing to do that.
If Cruz prevents Trump from getting to 1237, his path to the White House as president is pretty bleak.
I will be voting for the Republican nominee in November. But I am afraid many Trump or Cruz supporters will not vote for anyone other than their candidate. Hope a Trump-Cruz ticket is still possible. Otherwise, I hope the two camps can unite somehow.
Look up Jefferson/Burr and JFK and LBJ. Actually, the latter was more congenial than a Trump/Cruz team would be and they HATED each other!
Trump doesn't "need" Ted....not for ANY reason at all and it would even harm his election chances to take on Cruz!
“I do think Cruz could run for Trump’s VP.”
I think Trump’s too smart to team up with a malignant narcissist whose blind ambition could rationalize any nefarious act in order to move up to the #1 spot. I think Trump and his family prefer that he not leave the White House in a pine box.