For Cruz, it’s must-win in Texas
An enthusiastic Ted Cruz is not acting like he had a bad week, one in which he placed third in Nevada’s primary and fired his chief spokesman.
Instead, the senator is focusing his energy on Super Tuesday, when 11 states vote in Republican primaries, in particular his home state of Texas.
Cruz got a boost Wednesday with the endorsement of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. “Unlike far too many in Washington, the Ted Cruz we’ve seen in the Senate is the same Ted Cruz we elected. And he’s the same Ted Cruz I served with when I was attorney general and Ted was solicitor general,” said Abbott.
Top aides are saying Cruz has a re-honed strategy to target billionaire Donald Trump, who has succeeded, along with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, in hurting the Texan’s image by calling him a “liar” and accusing him of dirty tricks.
Cruz has been riled by the repetition of being called a liar after a series of campaign tactics — including suggesting that former neurosurgeon Ben Carson was dropping out as the Iowa caucuses began. Monday he fired spokesman Rick Tyler over posting an inaccurate video of Rubio.
Cruz campaign co-chairman Bob Vander Plaats, president of Family Leader, an advocacy group, believes Cruz is “doing well,” citing Cruz’s win in Iowa. He played down his third-place finishes in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, saying that in the last two Cruz “basically tied for second.”
The message going into the March 1 Super Tuesday votes, he said, has to be that Cruz can beat Trump and then beat potential Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the general election. “He’s the best positioned and the best to draw the most contrast with Trump,” said Vander Plaats.
“My recommendation is that Cruz keep his focus on his vision and the issues and the contrast with Trump, and leave Rubio alone,” he said.
Some say time is running out for Cruz.
“I think Ted Cruz is fading in this campaign. Not only is Trump steadier and stronger than most thought he would be, Cruz is not a winsome personality,” said Cal Jillson, political science professor at Southern Methodist University. “The liar, liar, liar challenge has stuck because Cruz exudes determination that many interpret as a desire to win at any cost.”
Konni Burton, a Texas state senator who is on Cruz’s campaign leadership team, said it was disappointing to lose Nevada and South Carolina, but that’s all in the past. “Nobody is less enthusiastic for Ted here,” she said in an interview. “There’s definitely momentum for Ted in Texas. All of us are focusing on Texas.”
Maria Recio: 202-383-6103, @maria–e–recio
This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "For Cruz, it’s must-win in Texas."