I wonder if they lambasted Reagan as much when he refused to endorse Ford? Naaahhh that’d be what we call hypocrisy
Cruz’ big mistake was hiring Jeff Roe as campaign manager. Cruz wanted the evangelical vote, and Roe was a sure way not to get it. Roe has an established reputation, and it is win-at-any-cost, including the use of lies, smears and gutter politics. His style and Christianity are a bad mix at best.
If Cruz had avoided Roe like the plague, he’d have ended up doing far better. Roe is most effective on statewide campaigns. He does all the same dirty tricks, but by the time the voters catch on the election is over. That doesn’t work in a national campaign. Roe won IA, but ethical questions dogged Cruz afterward, and state by state they only intensified.
There had to be a better fit for Cruz where managers are concerned. It’s a shame he didn’t connect with one of them.