Report: Ted Cruz could ride Tea Party support to White House [birther trolls stay out! JimRob]

Washington Examiner ^ | NOVEMBER 1, 2013 AT 11:21 AM | PAUL BEDARD

[SoConPubbie]

The friendly fire directed at Sen. Ted Cruz from establishment Republicans is giving the Texan first-in-line status among Tea Party supporters and building a base for him to run for president, according to a new analysis from the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.

“To the establishment, Cruz is the embodiment of all the forces conspiring to threaten the GOP's long-term viability. And, on a personal level, they also just can't stand Cruz: He drives them crazy,” wrote Kyle Kondik in Center Director Larry Sabato's popular Crystal Ball.

But, added Kondik, the “venom” directed at Cruz, whose effort to defund Obamacare led to a 16-day government shutdown, makes him an oversized hero to Tea Party supporters.

“Not pleasing the establishment is music to the ears of Tea Party activists, and if anything the shutdown has endeared Cruz even more to them. Assuming Cruz mounts a presidential bid in 2016 — he’s headed to South Carolina next week after his Iowa appearance last Friday (hint, hint) — the Tea Party could be a potent base,” he said.

Kondik took note of the Twitter sneers GOP old bulls fired off as Cruz spoke to Iowa Republicans a week ago. “[Mike] Murphy (@murphymike), an alum from John McCain’s rogue 2000 presidential campaign and a "Meet the Press" regular, was one of the establishment Republicans tweeting snark about Cruz during his speech,” he noted.

Murphy tweeted: “Sounds like we got trouble in River City… Good citizens, make your check payable to Cruz Against Soviet Healthcare. Or just ‘CASH’”

And that’s nothing new, said Kondik: “Ever since he’s been elected, we here at the Crystal Ball have heard groaning from Democrats and Republicans alike about how much they dislike Cruz.”

But could Cruz win the nomination in what’s expected to be a crowded field? A big hurdle might be GOP endorsements, typically from the establishment and to establishment candidates like Mitt Romney.

“At this point, it’s hard to imagine Cruz winning much support from party elites, so he’d have to depend on the Tea Party grassroots,” said Kondik, who noted that both parties have detoured with non-establishment candidates in the past and lost — the Republicans in 1964 with Barry Goldwater and Democrats in 1972 with George McGovern.

His bottom line: “Ted Cruz is riding high in some Republican/Tea Party circles precisely because he aggravates many high-ranking members of his own party. But his icy relationship with those party leaders might cause him problems if and when he decides to run for president.”Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.

[ConservativeDude]

one difference though.

Last time, each of Bachman, Cain, Perry, Santorum and a few others I have forgotten, were reasonably conservative, but in terms of intellect, energy, character, etc., they were all basically the same, and basically (let’s fact it...) second rate.

A bunch of B and B- conservatives playing musical chairs is not the same as having Cruz walk out onto one of those stages.

He is so far above anyone (except Lee..) on the scene, it’s really a different story. Now I admit if Paul also ran, that would be a little sticky. But honestly, I think Cruz would politely dispense with Paul, as well. But he would be the biggest challenge in terms of splitting the conservatives and letting christy get in there.

Your point is extremely well taken, but I think we have good reasons to believe that 2016 will be different than the past......

[House Atreides]

“If the other potential conservative candidates in the 2016 primaries quickly fold...”
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And that includes the PSEUDO conservatives such as Rubio and his ilk!

[SoConPubbie]

Governor from S.C. Nikki Haley?

Nikki Haley's fidelity to Tea-Party principles was shown to be only surface deep when she early on endorsed Mitt Romney in the last Presidential Primary Process.

I wouldn't want her anywhere near the Presidency because you cannot trust her further than you can throw her.

[Still Thinking]

The color of his skin?

There's something to this. I think a lot of weak-minded and simple-minded people were afraid to vote against Obama for fear of feeling like or looking like a racist. Plus, especially in 08, I'm sure there were a lot of uninvolved LIV's that sincerely thought it was the "right thing to do".

[napscoordinator]

Compared to Romney? Yes.

[Graybeard58]

We’ll argue among ourselves during the primaries, as to which of the half dozen rep candidates is the most conservative. The sole romneylike candidate walks away with the nomination.

[SoConPubbie]

He is so far above anyone (except Lee..) on the scene, it’s really a different story. Now I admit if Paul also ran, that would be a little sticky. But honestly, I think Cruz would politely dispense with Paul, as well. But he would be the biggest challenge in terms of splitting the conservatives and letting christy get in there.

It wouldn't take much to dispense with Rand Paul. Just mention his Amnesty Plan and his support of Mitch McConnell over a perfectly good Tea-Party Candidate, Bevin, and Paul will just simply melt away.

[MaxMax]

Expect some very dirty tactics from the GOPe to try and shut out Cruz from
any possibility of being the Candidate. They will fight Cruz harder than the RAT candidate.

[ConservativeDude]

I’d prefer Christy to Haley. Yes, that is sexist. So be it.

In any event.

Honestly, I don’t think Cruz will play the electoral / balancing / senator - governor games. I think he will do what is Right and right for the country.

I think he will go with a strong, capable conservative. Perhaps Lee. Perhaps Walker...though Walker has about half the intellect of Lee. Backbone yes. Perhaps someone else.

I think also that Cruz will recognize, as we do, that Reagan’s choice of Bush caused the movement to stall and stop.

I don’t actually fault Reagan, really. He made a judgment call and I can see why he chose Bush back then. But had he put on a treu conservative, he still would have won. We only know that in retrospect. Reagan thought it was necessary.

I think Cruz will learn from that.

I still don’t know if he can win nationwide. It will be pure media demagoguery 24/7, and that sways a lot of voters.

But at least we won’t be compromising on the message!!!!

[DoodleDawg]

They will fight Cruz harder than the RAT candidate.

That goes without saying. The crap Cruz will get from the Democrats is nothing compared to what members of his own party are going to do to him.

[stanne]

WEll, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beerholder. TO me, the best cardio I get is running for the remote or radio tuner when the announcer threatens to play a tape of that awful man aobut to give us another lecture: “UGh, Ah, and YOU MUST, ah, uh”.

[Dead Corpse]

Cruz is on my short list for POTUS. Unless he flip-flops on guns, the border, or abortion...

So far, he’s solid from what I’ve seen.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I intend to do my part to make sure that he does. Cruz may be America’s last chance.

[Dead Corpse]

I’m good with that...

Is there a line forming up for people that need punching? I need to work out some stress.

[boxlunch]

The great thing is that we have ONE wonderful candidate, rather than 5-6 pretty good candidates to war it out in the primary season. I hope and pray other tea party candidates will humble themselves and not tear the conservatives apart like happened last election. It was just brutal and of course, the worst candidate was the one left standing. We must NOT let that happen again!

Go Cruz!!!

[clamper1797]

I was just asking who people thought might be a good running mate. I haven’t personally selected the running mate candidate since Sara Palin.

[PA Engineer]

Run, Ted, Run!!

Glad to see you back. BTTT.

[Anton.Rutter]

[Hostage]

Ted Cruz will be my President!!!!

Amen! Amen! A-Friggin-Men!!!!

[conservaKate]

Expect some very dirty tactics from the GOPe to try and shut out Cruz from
any possibility of being the Candidate. They will fight Cruz harder than the RAT candidate.
__________________________________________________________

This is what I expect to happen as well. I just can’t see the GOPe ‘letting’ Cruz walk away w/ the nomination. They will want someone they can control or who ‘thinks’ like they do....and that ain’t Cruz.