Posted on 08/17/2015 6:32:28 PM PDT by VinL
When the junior senator from Texas announced that he was running for president last March, I used these pages to write that, "Ted Cruz could win in places like Alabama."
That opinion was based upon Cruz's unapologetic advocacy and defense of the conservative principles of limited government, individual liberty, and free markets, and his sincere desire to see those principles form the foundation for a massive shift in American governance.
Five months into his campaign, however, I feel that my earlier statement must be revised: Ted Cruz "will" win in places like Alabama, and perhaps in even less conservative states.
That prediction is based upon his impressive performance in the crowded primary thus far.
First, Cruz raised more hard money in the last reporting cycle than any of his competitors – even more than Jeb Bush who is backed by the establishment's money machine. This is a crucial indicator because, as we have learned, in this age money is indeed speech, and donating to a candidate is essentially "early voting" it is most truthful and practical form.
Moreover, Cruz's cash was raised in small amounts from many individual donors, a clear sign of deep and wide support cross the nation.
Usually, when a candidate claims that they've raised more individual donations and in small amounts, it's meant to highlight their grassroots support and downplay the fact that they're not raising large sums of money. Cruz is turning that typical formula on its head.
He's getting more individual contributions, in smaller amounts, and still raising the most money all at once. That's unheard of.
Second, Cruz is polling remarkably well in a crowded field of several All-Star candidates who, in normal cycles, would be leading contenders for the nomination. It's not like Cruz is the only conservative in the race; it's just that he may be the most courageous and trustworthy.
That's making a difference.
After the first debate, Cruz rocketed to second place in an early survey of support, behind Donald Trump and ahead of Ben Carson. Notice anything similar about those three? They're all outsiders, either removed from the party's establishment by their careers (Trump and Carson) or by their actions (Cruz). When those other two leave for whatever reason (Trump isn't a consistent and trustworthy conservative, and Carson isn't ready to battle the Democrats or the bureaucracy), the natural recipient of their fed-up-with-the-establishment supporters is Cruz. When the field shrinks in the coming months, expect Cruz's numbers to steadily increase.
Third, Cruz's anti-establishment message is resonating with voters, and it's something that movement conservatives have been waiting to hear since 1988. His attack on the "Washington Cartel," as he calls it, takes on both parties. Last month he took to the Senate floor and, in an unprecedented act of political courage, called the party's lackluster and backroom-dealing majority leader, Mitch McConnell, a "liar" for secretly negotiating with Democrats to pass President Barrack Obama's trade deal and rescue a crony capitalist bank from disestablishment. I've rarely seen a sitting politician take-on his leadership like that, and it was refreshing and inspiring.
So when Cruz came to Huntsville last Sunday evening to speak with supporters, I took my two oldest children in hopes that they'd see the man who might end up rescuing their generation from inheriting a weakened, and less free, America. I've been to a number of these early primary events, and I only expected 200-300 attendees at most. But organizers said they received more than 1,400 RSVPs, and by my count there were easily 2,000 people standing in the main hall and foyer of the Jackson Center conference facility.
Cruz's speech was wonderful, and it reminded me of what Rush Limbaugh said when he announced last spring.
"We finally now have, on display, someone who can cheerfully, confidently, happily articulate conservatism in a charismatic, positive way," Limbaugh said on his radio program last March.
"Somebody who's not afraid of it. Somebody who's not ashamed of it.
Somebody who doesn't see any need to qualify it or to make excuses for it."
Does that remind you of any other candidate in recent decades ... who was also hated by the establishment?
Let's hope Cruz – and America – enjoys similar results.
Quite a few Alabamians are so uninformed that they will tell you Jebbie is a “conservative” like them.
Good for you— this author thinks otherwise.
He really has to come out on illegals in Bama. I shop sometimes at a local town north of here.....and it’s covered up with South Americans/Mexicans. Pay-day loan places line the main street. I KNOW where the $$$$$ is going.
I still think Dems will rally around Bush and power him to the R nomination.
But I predicted Clinton would win the 08 D nomination and Obama would lose in 2012.
I think many dems will vote for Trump.
“I love Cruz but he’s just not getting the traction. This nomination is Trump’s to lose.”
Trump is getting support from more than 1 demographic.
He gets a lot of conservatives and a lot of moderates and also the old Reagan Democrats.
Cruz will get some of the conservatives and that’s all.
The Reagan Democrats who don’t want Clinton will vote for Trump. If it’s Cruz they’ll hold their nose and vote for Hillary.
I think this is one of those times where the real choice is 60% of something (Trump) or 100% of nothing (Cruz).
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3325443/posts
When those other two leave for whatever reason (Trump isn’t a consistent and trustworthy conservative, and Carson isn’t ready to battle the Democrats or the bureaucracy),
“I think many dems will vote for Trump.”
They will but those same Democrats won’t vote for Cruz.
They’ll hold their noses for Hillary first.
As conservative as he is, his stance on H-1B visas is a huge turn off to me. He wants to increase the visas by 500%. This is just wrong.
American workers are being displaced now by these people. How is this in the best interest of America? It isn’t. His vote for TPA is another thing, he went along with the status quo on this. Only Tom Cotton voted against it.
“I’m going to start a drinking game for when someone mentions the demise of Trump or when they think he will leave the race. At the rate of these articles over the past eight weeks, I’d be unconscious drunk.”
You would have probably died from alcohol poisoning by now.
Trump’s been declared “Done” at least once a week for the last couple of months or so.
I don’t see Trump going anywhere.
Everyone seems to have a different definition of what a conservative is.
Hmmmm ..?? If Cruz is not getting any traction, then why is every place where he’s already scheduled an event having to find another place to meet because of the overwhelming response. Most people don’t know that .. because the weeney media won’t tell the truth about Cruz.
Just because the weeney media hates Cruz doesn’t mean the public agrees with the media. Actually, the public loves Cruz .. and I believe he’s going to continue making progress. He’s basically saying the same things as Trump, he just does it in a calmer way - because he’s not Trump and Trump is not him - but they agree pretty much about what’s going on with our govt.
I have to go back to 2008 when Palin was drawing huge crowds. How’d that turn out? Granted, McCain was a horrible candidate, but, she is the one who pulled in the masses.
I have seen a number of doctors in the past few months. I enjoy talking to people waiting their appointments. I did not talk to a one who supported Cruz but I did hear them say they would vote for Trump and would not mind if Cruz was the VP nominee Most of them said they wish politicians would wait until just a few months before the election to start politicking. They are already tired of it. I am too.
“Hmmmm ..?? If Cruz is not getting any traction, then why is every place where he’s already scheduled an event having to find another place to meet because of the overwhelming response. Most people don’t know that .. because the weeney media won’t tell the truth about Cruz.
Just because the weeney media hates Cruz doesn’t mean the public agrees with the media. Actually, the public loves Cruz .. and I believe he’s going to continue making progress. He’s basically saying the same things as Trump, he just does it in a calmer way - because he’s not Trump and Trump is not him - but they agree pretty much about what’s going on with our govt.”
Sanders is filling up bigger venues all the time as well.
I’m not ripping Cruz but so far he hasn’t gotten any traction with enough people to even make a serious blip.
He won’t get enough crossover votes to carry him.
I know Cruz is a favorite here. So was Fred Thompson and so was Newt Gingrich.
As far as Cruz agreeing with Trump on what’s going on with our government did Trump attend that Koch brothers event and where is he on H1B visas.
I tend to seriously doubt that Trump views himself as a team with Cruz although I know a lot of Teds supporters here keep saying that.
Well who knows. Maybe wishful thinking will carry the day this time.
I get it .. you don’t like Cruz .. so your excuse to lying about him “not getting any traction” is because he’s not the candidate you’re supporting.
How thoughtful of you to tell the same “snarky” stupid statement, “Cruz isn’t getting any traction”.
Maybe you should record that just in case you have to eat the words later.
LOL .. people.
But .. the media hated her and the people were not fed up enough.
“I get it .. you don’t like Cruz .. so your excuse to lying about him “not getting any traction” is because he’s not the candidate you’re supporting.
How thoughtful of you to tell the same “snarky” stupid statement, “Cruz isn’t getting any traction”.
Maybe you should record that just in case you have to eat the words later.
LOL .. people.”
Nowhere did I say I didn’t like Cruz. In fact he’s my senator.
He got in the race first. He was at about 12% the week he declared. He’s at about 10% now. With the MOE he’s right where he started.
Wishful thinking isn’t going to make him poll any higher.
A lot of things can change in a year to be sure but so far Cruz hasn’t gotten any traction and you being POd about doesn’t change that.
There was a poll from Alabama taken last week that was posted upthread. Cruz is at #7.
The media hates all Republicans, unless they are DEM lites.
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