I think the author overlooked the fact that Dewhurst sucks.
/johnny
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.
I much prefer "enthusiastic" to "rabid."
We need to establish a few Cruz-like for the next election in 2 yrs. Use this model & get active.
“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.
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.
(he spent at least $19.9 million of his own money)????
For a $174,000 a year job!?!?!?
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.
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.
Then former Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) endorsed him, bringing in a wave of invaluable earned media, small donor contributions and momentum.I know I'm beating a dead horse, but she could have done the same for Hayworth if she had so chosen.
Dan Patrick lied when he said he was a conservative.
Wot??? Um, Sarah's endorsement came BEFORE ten days prior to the run off...she endorsed Cruz on/around May 10, 2012.
...bringing in small donor contributions? Wot?? At least give credit where credit is due.
Her endorsement helped bring in SIGNIFICANT donations, per Cruz' own campaign manager...
"Campaign manager John Drogin confirmed by email to Yahoo News that Palin's endorsement "has added HUGE buzz to our campaign. "Phones are ringing, online contributions are pouring in, and supporters are more excited than ever on our social networks," Drogin wrote, adding that he's seen a "flood" of donations but has yet to tally them.
Chick-fil-A took away coverage of the Cruz victory. That is too bad since his victory is a rallying cry for constitutional conservatives.
I never heard an ad on the radio that gave a position on any topic that said “vote for me.”
He just ran some version of the “Cruz is a trial lawyer for the Chinese govt stealing jobs from America” ad over and over.
No thanks!
Once they forced the runoff and conservatives fully came behind Cruz it was his to lose. Not unbelievable at all.