Posted on 02/24/2016 8:30:17 PM PST by TigerClaws
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The “southern firewall†Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign has been building for months appears to be crumbling under the weight of Donald Trump’s staying power and Marco Rubio’s resurgence.
The Cruz campaign told Yellowhammer Wednesday night they are pulling out of the Presidential Forum set to be held at Samford University in Birmingham on Saturday, and will not be holding any other events in Alabama ahead of election day. Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign, however, reiterated their commitment to the event.
The move is one of the most open indicators to date that Cruz has failed to pick up steam in the Bible Belt South, once believed to be his geographic stronghold and his most likely path to the nomination.
Numerous southern states and almost a quarter of the Republican delegates are up for grabs in the so called SEC Primary on March 1st.
Yellowhammer CEO Cliff Sims said Cruz’s exit from the state so close to election day is unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected.
“Decisions like this are difficult for any campaign to make, but they have to do what they think is best,†he said. “Once a campaign goes into survival mode, sometimes they have to cut their losses and move resources where they can be most effective. A candidate’s time is the most valuable resource any campaign has.â€
South Carolina Republican strategist Hogan Gidley said Cruz’s lackluster performance in his home state was the first public sign that Cruz’s southern strategy was not coming together.
“It does definitely put a dent into the manufactured reputation that Cruz is coalescing all conservatives,†he told National Review. “I think we can put an end to that myth.â€
A longtime Alabama political consultant who is not working for a presidential campaign but has seen presidential campaign polling numbers through other state-level campaigns told Yellowhammer Cruz’s path to the nomination could be disappearing.
“If Cruz — the Texan, the staunch evangelical, the anti-Washington guy — can’t win in Alabama and across the South, he can’t win,†the consultant said on condition of anonymity so he could speak freely. “I’ve seen polling in the last week that shows Cruz in third in Alabama, far behind Trump and behind Rubio, too. It might become apparent after March 1st that Cruz’s goose is cooked.â€
Senator Rubio is scheduled to be in both Birmingham and Huntsville on Saturday. Donald Trump is scheduled to be in Huntsville on Sunday. No other Republican candidates are currently scheduled to campaign in the state ahead of the March 1st primary.
That's because things don't add up with Cruz...Ted talks anti illegal immigration but yet he wouldn't be running in the race were it not for the cheap labor express...Those financing his campaign are seriously pro illegal immigration...And that's just one issue...Ted needs to explain that to get any support from me...
I think the animosity is more directed against his supporters, on this board.
Trump will take the battle to the dims. He will call Hillary a criminal and crook to her face. He will call Bill a rapist and crook to his face and he will call Bernie a marxist commie to his face. I won’t be pretty.
Why hasn’t Sessions endorsed Trump?
If you think Freerepublic is not conservative because of the support for Trump you are blinded by your own prejudices-— you are incapable of understanding the preferences and policies of Trump... The wall— the support of the military and veterans, the desire for a Scalia like Supreme court nominee— etc...
AMEN! And they really are a cult.
You say that Cruz is a man of “convictions and principles”.
The fact that he proved he had neither is why most folks like myself went else where.
I, for one, hated to see that happen.
Right. The fact that he has succeeded in accomplishing absolutely nothing notable in the Senate has nothing to do with it.
The fact that the media had him bottled up tighter than "I Dream of Jeannie" before Trump got into the race doesn't mean anything, either.
If only we all had your penetrating insight, and sublime analytical talents....
Or Jeff Sessions of Alabama.That would be a hell of a note with guys from new York and Alabama on a ticket.
This is one of the most conservative online communities in existence. Close to 75% of the long term members here, favor Trump.
Are you seriously calling them liberals?
I think ozone levels might be increasing in your immediate vicinity.
And his Texas supporters don't have a problem with that, bigbob.
In fact, we kinda like the fact that Senator Cruz is running for President. We believe he'd make a damn fine one.
He engineered an Obamacare protest which led to the Democrats getting pummelled in the mid-terms mere months later.
Name me a Republican Senator who has accomplished more than Cruz during Obama’s term.
“According to the Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC), thirty-six of the fifty-six signers (64%) of the Declaration of Independence had business experience such as being merchants, traders, doctors and farmers. The list includes such famous signers as John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin.
Of the fifty-five framers of the U.S. Constitution who were present during some part of the Convention, thirty (55%) had business experience.”
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/small-businessmen-led-american-revolution
GO BUSINESSMAN TRUMP!
......”Now, will the Cruzer globalists and liars please exit the building?”......Don’t let the FR door hit ya in the a$$ on the way out. It’s going to be great here without your bs.”.....
You have no right to make such a request of any Cruz supporters..... This was a fully Cruz supporting site before it was taken over by foul mouths such as yourself!
I don’t recall any Cruz supporter telling Trump supporters to leave this site.....and certainly not in the raw manner you’ve spoken.
More than likely I won’t be hanging around here much longer ......I’m disgusted with Freepers telling Cruz supporters to leave and not let the door hit them in the rear going out. The vileness and utter language used here has surpassed my tolerance level.
Trumps very vile and nasty means and ways have been transferred to his supporters as I’ve never seen happen before with a candidate....and fair to say that beyond that I ever heard from even an Obama supporter who would have been zotted for such language.
Not easy to leave the only social site I’ve posted to all these years....but I do think it’s time. ..or at least drawing close to that.
Really, today Sun came out from West.
I’ve heard that Lincoln story before and would like to believe it’s true. As far as “Gott mit Uns”, that phrase on military equipment in Prussia and Germany predates the rise of th Nazis.
That might be enough to drive me out too. Trump is going to tear the party in shreds. Which, as a life-long Democrat, may be one of his goals.
I am reminded of a short film called ‘The Wave’ from the early 80s, which demonstrated how easy it is to convince people to support an odious cause by stroking their egos, contradicting their insecurities, and criticizing their perceived oppressors.
Trump has expressed extremely liberal positions fairly recently. If we nominate him, based on the fact that the most recent position he has taken is conservative, then we truly are The Stupid Party.
If you (not you, EV) think he will reduce the size and intrusiveness of the federal government... if you think he will nominate conservative judges... if you think he is a great businessman and not just an exceptional self promoter and marketer... well... I guess we have our own version of Touré.
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