Reid: Cruz nomination would destroy GOP

[mystery-ak]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/homenews/188790-if-cruz-were-the-republican-presidential-nominee-reid-says

October 31, 2013, 06:46 am
Reid: Cruz nomination would destroy GOP

By Rebecca Shabad

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says if Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) won the Republican nomination for president, it would destroy the GOP.

In an interview on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” Wednesday night, Reid discussed fallout from the 16-day government shutdown, which ended two weeks ago. He said he’s sure the debacle will help Cruz raise more money. 

“If I didn`t care so much about our country, I would hope he will get the Republican nomination for president, because that would be the end of the Republican Party,” Reid said.

“Ted Cruz, he`s someone else.”

Cruz, a freshman Tea Party member, is credited with leading lawmakers on the charge to defund ObamaCare, and inspiring House GOP members to only fund the government as long as they back Cruz’s campaign. Their standoff with Democrats resulted in the shutdown Oct. 1. 

Lawmakers appointed to conference committees from both parties and both congressional chambers are now tasked with negotiating a longer-term deal on the budget and debt ceiling. Conferees have until Jan. 15 to compromise on funding the government, and Feb. 7 to do the same on the debt limit. 

“The Republican Party is staggering right now,” Reid said when asked if lawmakers will wind up in the same gridlock next year. “I don`t know who they can expect to have a vote for them. I don`t see it.”

He added, “They`re not going to do it again is what I`m saying.”

Republicans emerged from the shutdown facing polls showing they suffered the most. A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Wednesday evening said the GOP's favorability rating has dropped to 22 percent, an all-time record low.

These polls may weight heavily on Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who's running in a tight race for reelection in 2014. Until now, he's vowed not to shut down the government again.

Cruz, on the other hand, has recently said he’s not ruling it out.

Cruz is a likely candidate for the Republican presidential race in 2016. He has already visited Iowa, the state that kicks off primary season, and will soon stop in South Carolina, another early voting state.

[Bigun]

LOL! Dingy Harry worrying about the future of the GOP????

Now that there is PHUNNY i don't care WHO you are!

[Relic]

I really don't have an opinion of Cruz as a nominee. But if Harry Reid is advising against it, then there must be value for America in a Cruz nomination.

[mountaineer]

I really don't have an opinion of Cruz as a nominee. But if Harry Reid is advising against it, then there must be value for America in a Cruz nomination.

Exactly. When a leftist gives you advice, do the opposite.

[raml]

Well then if Reid is saying that we know Cruz would be an excellent choice. I know that democrats would rather have Christie because Christie hasn't a chance in hell of winning.

[flowers]

He might be right....Gutless Old Party. If it takes out RINO's it is a great thing! We all know who is a threat to the left, they tell us all the time by attacking them.

[andy58-in-nh]

LOL! Dingy Harry worrying about the future of the GOP????

Now that there is PHUNNY i don't care WHO you are!

Liberals will always tell you which people most threaten them by means of who they choose to ridicule, but also by synthetic sympathy: the act of pretending to care for others who might be influenced to oppose them. 

[Bigun]

Liberals will always tell you which people most threaten them by means of who they choose to ridicule, but also by synthetic sympathy: the act of pretending to care for others who might be influenced to oppose them.

 

[Formerly Once-Ler]

These polls may weight heavily on Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who's running in a tight race for reelection in 2014. Until now, he's vowed not to shut down the government again.

There is no reason for any Republican to promise not to shutdown the government again.  It just feeds another story about something best dropped in public.  Any question can be deflected by saying "we hope a shutdown won't be necessary.  Their is plenty of time for us to negotiate and agree on a bill."