Cruz has a national ground game and stable temperament. Trump has neither. I don’t think Trump could even handle losing a couple more states, whereas Cruz can and will soldier on till there is no further chance of victory.
Also Trump is not a conservative, Cruz is. Trump’s support is mostly personality driven, another couple trumpertantrums and people may view him radically differently which would drive down his poll numbers. Heck, at this point I am not even sure Trump could stand a slew of national polls that didn’t show him leading.
Cruz has shown himself to be nothing more than what we were hoping him not to be. You discount the fact that Trump hardly spent any time in Iowa, has never run a campaign before, and finished 2nd in a state who’s demographics is definitely not in his wheelhouse. There is only 1 delegate difference.
Trump is the only candidate running, who has been successful in a very challenging business and has used that success for more good than any other candidates, perhaps with the exception of the candidates who are doctors. Trump’s position on other issues are fair game and should be attacked, rightfully so, but if it were not for not for Trump entering this race and correctly voicing the issue of illegal immigration, porous borders, neglecting immigration law and feckless, incompetent leadership for the last 30 years, we’d be wondering who Jeb Bush would be picking for VP right now.
Trump will roll through NH, SC and on through the SEC states. If Cruz is fortunate enough to hold off Rubio’s media and GOPe assisted rise, he may be able to make his last stand in Texas...perhaps at the Alamo?