How Ted Cruz Did It

Townhall.com ^ | August 3, 2012 | Matt Mackiwiak

[South40]

I think the author overlooked the fact that Dewhurst sucks.

[JRandomFreeper]

Dewhurst helped with his bully-boy lies and tactics. People aren't going to put up with that crap anymore.

/johnny

[Houghton M.]

Boils down to, against all odds, conservatives did not choose the circular firing squad approach this time. As momentum built toward Cruz, the others withdrew.

Marvelous what can be accomplished when conservatives don’t bicker and bitch to the bitter end.

[KarlInOhio]

I think the author overlooked the fact that Dewhurst sucks.

Looking at the current batch of senators, I don't see sucking as a disqualifier.

[Night Hides Not]

Two months later, on runoff election night, Cruz’s rabid volunteer base, outside support and huge momentum carried him to a crushing 13-point win.

I much prefer "enthusiastic" to "rabid."

[Sans-Culotte]

Dewhurst helped with his bully-boy lies and tactics. People aren't going to put up with that crap anymore.

If he'd stuck with his positive "this is what I'll do" ads, I think Dewhurst would have won. Sure, he was merely playing the part of a real conservative in those ads, but they were effective. His attack ads were lame-ass and unconvincing and only helped Cruz.

[Digger]

We need to establish a few Cruz-like for the next election in 2 yrs. Use this model & get active.

[Mountain Mary]

“though repeating what Cruz did will be difficult”.

Like so many other out of touch pundits, this author underestimates the power of determined, fed up Tea Party activists.

[isthisnickcool]

I’m happy Cruz got elected. I’m unhappy that SENATOR!! I SAY! I SAY! SENATOR! DID YOU HEAR THAT? I’M A TEXAS STATE SENATOR!!! Dan Patrick has turned in to such a political crackhead who has developed an ego so big he can’t contain himself. His outrageous behavior during his support of Dewhurst was sickening. Patrick has turned in to what he railed against for so many years. What a jerk he has become.

[skinndogNN]

If your going to play in Texas, you better have a fiddle in the band.

Remember that song?

Well, if your going to win in Texas, you better flank your opponent to the RIGHT.

It’s that simple.

[Sybeck1]

(he spent at least $19.9 million of his own money)????

For a $174,000 a year job!?!?!?

[Snickering Hound]

Cruz was helped immensely by an inept Dewhurst campaign that blew all it's cash on negative ads.

As any Poli-Sci major will tell you, negative ads are supposed to depress turnout. But used in the massive quantities Dewhurst did it had the opposite effect, people turned out in droves to vote against him.

Now that Poli-Sci major that came up with this scheme for Dewhurst can go back to serving latte at Starbucks.

[Unmarked Package]

"Looking at the current batch of senators, I don't see sucking as a disqualifier."

I understand your viewpoint, but I believe Lt. Gov. Dewhurst's behavior in the campaign made a huge difference to many Texas Republicans and gave the win to Ted Cruz.

I believe tens of thousands of Republican primary voters were surprised by the sleazy, dishonest campaign ads that Dewhurst and his PAC supporters approved and he came to be seen as a person without honor. I know it was shocking to our family. I have my doubts now that Dewhurst is worthy of holding public office, let alone one of the most influential positions in Texas state government.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Eric Holder deserves as much credit as anyone... without the long delays in the primary voting, the result of challenges from the Justice Dept.... Cruz would never have had TIME to overcome the name recognition factor.

[ballplayer]

Well so does Obumbo,so explain that,didn’t stop him,The Marxist is still loved by the morons in this country

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Like so many other out of touch pundits, this author underestimates the power of determined, fed up Tea Party activists.

AMEN!

[South40]

Well so does Obumbo,so explain that

Two unpopular wars and a liberal slanted media who sold the public on the idea that the failing economy was the fault of the Republicans AND the idea that a well-spoken and charismatic young senator from Illinois would or could change things. That explains Obama. But you already knew that.

[lone star annie]

IMHO Pols like Dewhurst and Perry were allowed to play crony capitalist, big spending, pro amnesty behind the scenes pols because they passed a lot of the agenda of the evangelical, pro-life activists. I know many of them and they all backed Dewhurst. The reasons they would expouse is his pro life legislation and other social legislation.

Well I think all this is fine and good and I am for the pro life legislation, but many Texans are tired of Austin neglecting fiscal responsibility and most of the conservative legislation being held up by the leadership. I want all three legs of the conservative agenda, and I am not going to be bought off with just one.

[South40]

Looking at the current batch of senators, I don't see sucking as a disqualifier.

lol! No, but Texas voters were provided a far better alternative in Ted Cruz.