Donald Trump leads in the polls, but Ted Cruz looks more like the favorite

[mystery-ak]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/09/fact-ted-cruz-is-in-the-catbirds-seat-to-win-the-republican-nomination/

By Chris Cillizza December 9 at 2:28 PM

The Iowa caucuses are 54 days away. Donald Trump is, still, the national front-runner. Marco Rubio is, now, the establishment's best (only?) hope. And Ted Cruz is the guy who looks best positioned to win.

Yes, you heard that right.

Ted Cruz, as of today, has the most direct route to the Republican presidential nomination -- assuming the past history of Republican nomination fights works as a broad predictor of where this race is headed.

Let me elaborate.

1. Cruz is positioned as the most conservative candidate in the race.  While Trump gets all of the attention for his over-the-top statements, Cruz has staked out a position on the far right on virtually every major hot button issue -- from immigration to Obamacare to national security and the fight with ISIS.  And, tonally, Cruz comes across as aggressively and unapologetically conservative -- a less controversial and unelectable version of Trump.

A Washington Post-ABC News November poll showed that Cruz's numbers are in the stratosphere with voters who identify themselves as "very" conservative; 69 percent had a favorable opinion of him while just 21 percent regard Cruz in an unfavorable light.

In a Republican primary -- particularly one in which the GOP electorate is mad at hell at everyone (including those in their own party) for an alleged lack of commitment to conservative principles -- being the guy all the way on the ideological right is a very, very good thing.

2. Cruz has raised the second most money in the race.  Yes, Jeb Bush is far and away the fundraising leader in the race. Not only did we know that would be the case but we also now know that it has done him, roughly, zero good.  But, what most people didn't expect and/or don't know is that Cruz has raised the second most cash among Republicans running in 2016.

continued

[aligncare]

I certainly can live with the thought of a president Ted Cruz. In fact, for regular Americans Ted Cruz has the potential to be a great president (though liberals would scream like banshees).

However, I think liberals would muddy the waters over his citizenship enough to possibly derail him in the general. That concerns me.

[Bigun]

I certainly can live with the thought of a president Ted Cruz. In fact, for regular Americans Ted Cruz has the potential to be a great president (though liberals would scream like banshees).

However, I think liberals would muddy the waters over his citizenship enough to possibly derail him in the general. That concerns me.

I fully intend to cast my vote for Ted Cruz in the primary as does everyone else in my household.  He will be our next president and a damned good one at that! In fact I believe him to be our last best hope at saving and reviving this once great republic!

Liberals in general have no idea about what the constitution says about anything and certianly have no leg to stand on with regard to the issue you raise given what THEY have given us for the last seven years!

[musiclady]

I sure hope so.

I tremble at the idea that I will have only two liberals to choose from when election day comes.......   

[ABX]

So Cruz is who the GOPe is going to use to try to take down Our Donald, The Other One, next? _{(copyright 2015, FR)}

[libertybele]

I certainly can live with the thought of a president Ted Cruz. In fact, for regular Americans Ted Cruz has the potential to be a great president (though liberals would scream like banshees).

However, I think liberals would muddy the waters over his citizenship enough to possibly derail him in the general. That concerns me.

I have thought about that, I'm waiting for that to come up now.  However, Trump is keeping them plenty busy at the time.  Thanks Donald!

[libertybele]

So Cruz is who the GOPe is going to use to try to take down Our Donald, The Other One, next? _{(copyright 2015, FR)}

Not going to happen.  The GOPe probably hates Cruz more than Trump.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Not going to happen.  The GOPe probably hates Cruz more than Trump. 

Boy, this is a tough call  ^-^

[truth_seeker]

The nominee, Trump, Cruz or another NEEDS all of the votes from people that posters refer to as establishment, with derogatory tones.

That means the Chambers of Commerce, which represent tens of thousands of SMALL businesses, where millions of people WORK, as examples.

Such derision is counter productive. Splitting the center-right is counter productive. It only gives merry little bands of infantile "me too, me too" folks to echo each other, as hobby.

If they really wanted to do something constructive, they would be involved stopping developers from chrony relationships with people like Trump, stealing land from small family owners, etc.

But sitting all day by a computer, is far more simple, distant, anonymous, risk free etc.

[Longiron]

Not going to happen.  The GOPe probably hates Cruz more than Trump.

Correct Liberty BUT that is PRICELESS they cannot stand TRUMP BUT hate #2 CRUZ. Luv it

[Sanguine]

So Cruz is who the GOPe is going to use to try to take down Our Donald, The Other One, next? _{(copyright 2015, FR)}

Now, where did you get that?