[Defiant]

Cruz's argument that if Trump wins he runs the table may have helped. Voting for Cruz gives the more conservative candidate a chance to continue the race for a while. They weren't ready for it to be over. I can understand that.

I think Trump will win NH and SC and then go on to win big when the winner take all primaries start. Cruz can stay in the running with this Iowa win, could still take Texas, and has given himself, worst case, a better case for VP if Trump wins. It remains possible for him to catch fire and overtake Trump, but I don't see it happening outside of the unique situation in Iowa.

The main thing is to make sure that the establishment can't sneak Rubio in through the back door. Linda Graham might like that, but it would be disastrous for the rest of us.

[morphing libertarian]

I think trump is hard to bet against. Seems to pick up independents, undecided, dems fleeing sinking ship. If trump trumps, I like Cruz in the senate playing the role of conscience