I noticed an uptick in Ted’s support well before Iowa. The elderly and timid were taking a more sympathetic view of him as someone who could be trusted.
But it appears Ted’s choice of campaign team was in error. They did him in. They convinced him that their sleazeball tactics were what was needed in SC, and so they set about turning off a large segment of evangelicals there, due solely in the manner of their delivery.
What it points out is that Ted needed a ‘ground game’ but was inexperienced in how to organize and command one. He gave it over to others and in so doing he lost his message.
Donald Trump simply has more mastery of branding and messaging than any other candidate. And he has experience managing a large organization of executives that adhere to his way of communicating and executing.
BUMP
Ted Cruz hired those “sleaze ball” tactics. Jeff Row was not hired for his organizational powers alone. He ran the governor campaign, where the dirty tricks triggered the opponent’s suicide.
Even after IOWA, Cruz unapologetically issued the creepy sounding robo calls against TRUMP, still skirting the edges of propriety by his “joy” filled campaign.
He does lie. By omission. Staging 20 year old comments in ads against another candidate, as if they were still held today is a Cruz signature tactic.
You are right. His campaign handlers killed the dog and spoiled the Cruz brand of righteousness. But, he hired them to do it.
So true. He's good at leading a very large team.