Ted Cruz plots a 2024 bid even as he waits on Trump

[corbe]

Ted Cruz plots a 2024 bid even as he waits on Trump

by David M. Drucker, Senior Political Correspondent
September 09, 2022 09:48 AM

LONDONDERRY, New Hampshire — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) shook hands and posed for pictures with the crowd for an hour, then grabbed a stool at the bar at American Legion Post 27 and joined everyone for a beer.

This is what running for president looks like in New Hampshire, the host of the second nominating contest and the first traditional primary on the Republican Party’s quadrennial nominating calendar. And Cruz, the runner-up for the GOP nod in 2016 (the last time the party did not field an incumbent), conceded he has not ruled out mounting a second campaign — even if former President Donald Trump enters the race.

But the senator also confirmed in a brief interview with the Washington Examiner Thursday evening he will make no decision about 2024 until he knows Trump’s plans. Any Republican mulling a White House bid who says otherwise (and at the very least, that includes former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo) is, Cruz insists, being dishonest about his or her internal deliberations.

“There are a lot of candidates out there feeling their oats and boasting, ‘I’m running no matter what. I don’t care what Donald Trump says.’ Anyone who says that is lying. That’s an idiotic statement for someone to make who’s actually thinking about running,” Cruz said after headlining a rally for Karoline Leavitt, the Republican candidate for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, before a couple of hundred voters and activists.

“I don’t know what Trump’s going to decide — nobody does. Anybody who tells you they do is making things up,” the senator said. “The whole world will change depending on what Donald Trump decides. That’s true for every candidate. That’s true of every potential candidate.”

<..snip..>

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/ted-cruz-2024-bid-waits-trump

[corbe]

   Morning wood for all the Cruz Haters on here. 

[cato potatoe]

I like him just fine, but he can be clumsy as a politician, and voters hold him to a higher standard due to his intelligence.  Maybe the senate or judiciary are better fits.

[LMAO]

I still hold to my prediction that the next Republican president will be one of the successful Republican governors

[Mesaclone]

I still hold to my prediction that the next Republican president will be one of the successful Republican governors

I love Cruz...but Trump IS running...so its a moot point.

[mountaineer]

I have no problem with this. There should be other Republican challengers (assuming Trump does run).

[Killer Clouds]

Cruz has no chance to win. I agree we need to get a successful governor.  Senators do not make good presidents.

[libertybele]

I love Cruz...but Trump IS running...so its a moot point.

Trump a few times hinted that he was going to run at the PA rally.  Whether or not the liberals/RINO's are successful in ensuring that he doesn't run, remains to be seen.

I've always liked Cruz and think that he would make an awesome President, but I think he'd better serve this country as AG and drain the swamp.

[libertybele]

I still hold to my prediction that the next Republican president will be one of the successful Republican governors

DeSantis is not interested nor is Noem (last they stated) and I can't think of any others that would be successful.

[aligncare]

Cruz has no chance to win. I agree we need to get a successful governor.  Senators do not make good presidents.

You are right. Most senators make for lousy presidents. They are primarily orators, and most are pretty lazy. They don’t have the work ethic nor skill set that an executive would need to get things done. Witness Jeff Sessions.

I love Ted Cruz, but it’s best he remain in the Senate or be nominated to the Supreme Court. That’s where he truly belongs.

[libertybele]

You are right. Most senators make for lousy presidents. They are primarily orators, and most are pretty lazy. They don’t have the work ethic nor skill set that an executive would need to get things done. Witness Jeff Sessions.

I love Ted Cruz, but it’s best he remain in the Senate or be nominated to the Supreme Court. That’s where he truly belongs.

My hunch is if Trump runs, Cruz will be his running mate.  I can't think of a more formidable team.

[DefiantMassRINO]

I dunno 'boot that hoser, eh ...

[libertybele]

I dunno 'boot that hoser, eh ...

That's all we need again is the Trumpsters v. Cruzers -- just sayin'. 

[Smokin Joe]

You are right. Most senators make for lousy presidents. They are primarily orators, and most are pretty lazy. They don’t have the work ethic nor skill set that an executive would need to get things done. Witness Jeff Sessions.

I love Ted Cruz, but it’s best he remain in the Senate or be nominated to the Supreme Court. That’s where he truly belongs.

Hobnobbin', negotiating, and lobbying is a different skill set from Executive duties.

I spoke with a former governor here and asked him if he'd considered a Senate run. Nope, he wasn't sure how well he'd fare in a legislative environment after having been Governor, just because they required different skills.

[catfish1957]

   Morning wood for all the Cruz Haters on here. 

Hey, I may have been his earliest, longest duration and biggest supporters in TX.  I met him during a visit during his first senatoral primary in '12, and was "all in" in for him Day 1.

In fact my fervor support for him is the reason I am at TBR, because I angrily defended him so strongly against Trump, I got zotted from TOS during the '16 primaries.

Fast Forward:

In the past two years he has called January 6th tresspassers "terrorist", and cowardly left to Cancun, during a black out crisis during our last big freeze.

Politically, he's dead to me, as far as furthering his political aspirations.  No doubt he has good conservative cred, but I now also see him as a greasy political opportunitst. I've moved on to more support guys like DeSantis and Cotton.  In fact right now, I'd prefer Trump to Cruz too.

[libertybele]

Hey, I may have been his earliest, longest duration and biggest supporters in TX.  I met him during a visit during his first senatoral primary in '12, and was "all in" in for him Day 1.

In fact my fervor support for him is the reason I am at TBR, because I angrily defended him so strongly against Trump, I got zotted from TOS during the '16 primaries.

Fast Forward:

In the past two years he has called January 6th tresspassers "terrorist", and cowardly left to Cancun, during a black out crisis during our last big freeze.

Politically, he's dead to me, as far as furthering his political aspirations.  No doubt he has good conservative cred, but I now also see him as a greasy political opportunitst. I've moved on to more support guys like DeSantis and Cotton.  In fact right now, I'd prefer Trump to Cruz too.

The MSM called the J6 trespassers 'insurrectionists' and I believe that Cruz knowing that the leftists and liberals staged the 'insurrection' gave him reason to call them 'terrorists', thinking that the truth would come out sooner rather than later and that the term would be applied to the leftists. Obviously that didn't happen and the definition came back to haunt him.

As for him taking off to Cancun to keep his family safe and warm, I can't find blame.  He is a Senator, not the governor of the state of TX.

IMHO his conservative record speaks for itself and I would vote for Cruz in a heartbeat.

[catfish1957]

As for him taking off to Cancun to keep his family safe and warm, I can't find blame.  He is a Senator, not the governor of the state of TX.
.

Got to disagree there.  No he is not governor, but he should have been shoulder to shoulder with his neighbors during a crisis like this.  Instead it made him look like a coward, not wanting to be bothered with the inconvience of the lights being out in pure elitist fashion.

Don't get me wrong, he will continue to get my vote for senator, as long as he is the strongest conservative choice.  I have just been soured on his prospects for higher office.  And really question is actual politcal savvy.

[Cyber Liberty]

Got to disagree there.  No he is not governor, but he should have been shoulder to shoulder with his neighbors during a crisis like this.  Instead it made him look like a coward, not wanting to be bothered with the inconvience of the lights being out in pure elitist fashion.

I can see the alternate Houston Chronicle headline if Cruz went to TX:  "Senator Cruz and his entourage sopping up a lion's share of dwindling electrical power during a humanitarian crisis."

[Bigun]

I'm far from a Cruz hater, in fact, I really like the man but I'll never be able to vote for him in a presidential primary because he is NOT a NBC as the Constitution requires.

[Killer Clouds]

I'm far from a Cruz hater, in fact, I really like the man but I'll never be able to vote for him in a presidential primary because he is NOT a NBC as the Constitution requires.

Neither was Obummer but he was elected POTUS twice.

[Sighlass]

How dare a real conservative run.... Go Trump Go.... /s

[Killer Clouds]

How dare a real conservative run.... Go Trump Go.... /s

I like Cruz for a senator. He needs to stay in the senate or even SCOTUS possibly. We need a conservative as POTUS that knows how to run SOMETHING other than just being a politician.

[Cyber Liberty]

Neither was Obummer but he was elected POTUS twice.

LOL.  You know the press will treat Cruz the same way they treated O'Bastard? 

[Cyber Liberty]

I like Cruz for a senator. He needs to stay in the senate or even SCOTUS possibly. We need a conservative as POTUS that knows how to run SOMETHING other than just being a politician.

Senators generally make poor Presidents.  Different skill set than Governors.

[bilo]

I was able to convince my wife, a Yellow Dog Democrat, to cross over and vote for Cruz in the 2016 primary. I bet if he runs in 2024 I just may be able to get her to vote for Cruz again.

I really like Cruz and contributed to his campaign as well. My respect for him grew after the 2016 election when he started working with Trump even though Trump had been so rough in the primaries. However, I think if it's not going to be Trump, Desantis is the man. Cruz and Desantis are both quick on their feet and solid conservatives, but Desantis has the advantage of being proven as an effective executive. Cruz does not have the executive experience.