Cruz made his losing miscalculation right out of the gate. He spent all his time and effort courting evangelicals and getting endorsements from pastors.
I wondered at the time “what the heck is he doing?” It was if he just wanted to be President of Iowa.
Meantime, he forgot everyone else. Trump was out going full bore from state to state talking about the things people care about.
Fancy speeches and soaring rhetoric not backed by actions with results is just talk.
Many Christians are like my Dad, they do not appreciate a political candidate acting like his campaign is somehow sanctioned by God. My best guess is this is why Cruz didn’t make it in the south.