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Talk Radio Hosts Talk Trump, But Back Cruz
Tuesday, December 22, 2015 11:11 AM
By: Loren Gutentag
Conservative talk radio has been riding the Donald Trump train for some time now, but with the Iowa caucuses just one month away, Politico reports that rather than continue to talk about what gives their shows the most ratings, the hosts are showing their commitment to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
"He's my guy. I like Ted Cruz a lot," Glenn Beck said on Fox News last week, who reels in about 7 million listeners a week, according to the industry magazine Talkers.
The sudden shift in support of Cruz's campaign has gradually increased since Trump called the Texas senator "a little bit of a maniac" and may very well explain the upspring in Cruz's standing in Iowa.
"My friend Donald Trump really screwed up . . . Big time," said former Reagan administration official Mark Levin.
"We have a guy who has stood up to Mitch McConnell, who is viciously attacked in every liberal newspaper, every liberal outlet, by the establishment. Who led the fight against Obamacare. And he's referred to as a 'maniac?' I'm sure Mitch McConnell loved that," Levin said to his 7 million radio listeners.
"I'm sure the Wall Street Journal editorial page loved that. He's a 'maniac?'"
Politico notes that although the conservative radio hosts have constantly been talking about Trump, few have actually declared that they're Trump backers.
And, Glenn Beck even questioned the motivations of his radio counterparts, such as Sean Hannity, Michael Savage and Rush Limbaugh who have suggested they're focusing on Trump "to keep the audience."
"These are smart people. What am I missing? Just based on his favorability ratings, he could never win in a general. Research shows that he may be near his ceiling now. Are they just trying to hold on to those disenfranchised Republicans and keep them in the fold?" said Beck, Politico reports.
Further showing their support for Cruz after the last debate, conservative talk show hosts went on the defense when Florida Sen. Marco Rubio criticized the Texan for his "inconsistent rhetoric" when it comes to legalization for undocumented immigration.
"Yes, Ted Cruz offered a proposal, the result of which would have allowed some illegal aliens to stay in the United States in exchange for never becoming citizens. His plan failed and exposed just how intent his fellow Republican Senators were in giving illegal aliens a pathway to citizenship. Now those Senators and Republican elites want revenge," noted conservative host Erick Erickson.
Host Laura Ingraham, who caters to about 2 million listeners a week recently referred to Cruz as "Reaganesque."
And although Ingraham is also a Trump fan, the host applauded Cruz on her Twitter for "welcoming the tough questions" and never hiding from "conservative talk radio."
