First, you have to admit that Cruz applied a heavy strategy to target evangelicals which led to his success in Iowa. It was also likely that he had hoped for momentum to carry over as the leader to other states. That certainly hasn't happened. For whatever reason, whether it's him personally or his work in the Senate, he has been unable to draw a strong following. I know what others have said about why Cruz is struggling and perhaps you would share why you think Cruz is doing so poorly.
Finally, I'm honest enough to admit that, at times, Trump says things that are cringe worthy, but so has Cruz. I also look at other things about Trump to tell me about him as a person. I look at how well his children have turned out and realize that it wasn't by accident. I look at the charitable acts he has done that he doesn't boast about.
Even yesterday at his appearance at Regent, his tone was very different than his stump speeches and spoke about success and successful people. He says he knows many and talked about how many weren't very happy as they always wanted more and more. He said that in these paid 'success' speeches, he talks about the importance of family.
I know that you would come back and say "sure, here's the guy with two failed marriages talking about family". That may but valid be I don't know the circumstances and I'm not in a position to judge.
The reason why Cruz isn't my number one is I simply don't trust a lifetime politician/lawyer to fix anything, frankly. I'm very cynical about sending another 'conservative messiah' to the White House and wait to get stabbed in the back as happened so often. I'm just jaded on politicians, what can I tell you?
Cruz is a true conservative and the media hates them. They have been hammering home the evangelical angle of Cruz and there are millions of socially liberal conservatives that are frightened by that. I call them liberals.
I hope your instincts are right about Trump because it looks like he’ll be the next President. And he is unlikely to change how government is currently run. EPA, IRS, DEA, DOE, VA, EPA will continue to place their jackboots hard into the necks of millions of Americans.