Imagine Cruz taking IA and NH! The GOPe would be beyond panic mode.
Ted Cruz expands horizons beyond Iowa..."It might seem implausible that the Iowa frontrunner -- a conservative firebrand with strong support among evangelicals -- is stepping up his efforts in the mostly secular, moderate-leaning state of New Hampshire, where establishment candidates like Chris Christie and Jeb Bush are planting their flags.
But a unique set of circumstances -- the splintering of establishment support during a time of populist fervor -- has paved the way for Cruz to possibly steal a higher than expected finish in New Hampshire, a prospect that seemed unthinkable at the outset of the campaign. And conservatives have been dropping in the polls and leaving the race, so Cruz is hoping there's an opening on the right for him.
"With the traditional conservative lane freed up by Rick Perry, Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal dropping out, and Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee focusing on Iowa, Cruz could do very well in New Hampshire, especially now that the more establishment lane seems very competitive and jam-packed as we begin the final turn going to the New Hampshire finish line," said Dave Carney, a New Hampshire-based Republican strategist who is not affiliated with any campaign.
Cruz has drawn attention to overtaking Trump in right-leaning Iowa, but he has quietly maintained a strong position in New Hampshire polls since early November, running behind Trump but neck-and-neck with Marco Rubio for second place. He has also consistently led Christie, who has dominated most coverage of New Hampshire with his relentless town hall schedule here.
The Cruz campaign has quietly built a sturdy New Hampshire operation. Sources close to the campaign say they've more than doubled their staff in recent weeks to 10 paid staffers. The campaign is also building out their field team for a late push: More than 40 volunteers are moving into the Cruz campaign's volunteer housing beginning Monday. ...
...Pat Buchanan, the last conservative outsider to win the 1996 New Hampshire primary, said it will be tough for Cruz to overtake Trump. But the race has the potential to be competely reset if Cruz wins Iowa, he said.
"As of right now, if Cruz wins in Iowa he probably is the favorite to come in at least second in New Hampshire," Buchanan told CBS News...
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-cruz-expands-horizons-beyond-iowa/
