This is what so many on the forum have been saying.

Why does Cruz look like a frontrunner now when he didn't two months ago? Mainly, I think, because the "electable" candidates have all looked weaker than expected, and not just vis-a-vis Trump. It's been fully eight months since Jeb Bush announced his exploratory committee and still no one's excited. He comes off like a less charismatic, more centrist Mitt Romney. Scott Walker can't seem to give a straight answer to tough immigration questions and he disappeared at the first debate, taking a beating for it in the polls. Increasingly it seems like Tom Coburn's assessment, that he's not ready for national primetime, might be right. Marco Rubio's in a different position from Bush and Walker in that he hasn't really disappointed — he excelled at the debate and his favorable ratings remain off the charts — but he seems to be everyone's second choice. Maybe he starts to move as Jeb fans accept that the dream of Bush 3.0 isn't happening and Walker's fans accept that the man who laid waste to the left in Wisconsin won't be the same wrecking ball as president, but it seems like voters might be stuck seeing Rubio as a guy who'll be perfect four or eight years from now. He looks like he's 30 years old. Why not make him wait?

So the three "electable" guys in the race seem unelectable while Trump's candidacy, which started off looking like a stunt, turns increasingly serious. The expected "Bush vs. Not Bush" campaign appears, for the moment, to be a "Trump vs. Not Trump" contest instead. If you're in the "Not Trump" camp, who's left realistically except Ted Cruz? His right-wing competition, i.e. Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal, seems to be going nowhere. He's raised far more money than anyone expected he would, so he's likely to be competitive deep into next spring at least. He's well positioned in Iowa, South Carolina, and the "SEC primary" thanks to his evangelical cred. And as the staunchest conservative in the top tier, he's a natural draw for righties who dislike Trump because they believe (correctly) that he's a phony conservative.
More....
http://hotair.com/archives/2015/08/24/is-ted-cruz-the-new-frontrunner-for-the-nomination/

That's a good point.  Ted's national poll numbers are low,
but what are his numbers in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina?
Wins in the early contests usually drive big shifts in the national polls.

Quote from: je_freedom on August 28, 2015, 08:35:07 PM
That's a good point.  Ted's national poll numbers are low,
but what are his numbers in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina?
Wins in the early contests usually drive big shifts in the national polls.

The early Primaries do seem to knock off people on a long list of candidates.  If they cannot get in the top three or four, their prospects do diminish considerably.

I do believe that Ted will continue to gain ground as the debates wear on.  He will never lose a debate.  It is a matter of getting enough exposure time.   That irked him in the last debate!

Trump's arrogant abrasiveness will begin to irritate many after a period of time.

Quote from: je_freedom on August 28, 2015, 08:35:07 PM
That's a good point.  Ted's national poll numbers are low,
but what are his numbers in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina?
Wins in the early contests usually drive big shifts in the national polls.

After aligning with Trump, there's no telling with all the notoriety he'll be getting as more and more people become interested in what he has to say.
Both factions have purposely ignored him, LSM and Establishment know, the more people hear him speak, the more they want to hear from him.

Cruz is bad news for this nations enemies.

I like Cruz a lot, but the fact that he was born in Canada troubles me.  McCain was born in the Panama Canal zone to two US citizen parents, and they tried to eliminate him on that fact, even though he was born there because of his father's military posting.  Cruz would make a great president, IMO, but I fear that if he is the nominee, the Dems will pull something out of the hat after the conventions to try to disqualify him.  I think they are probably working on it now.  He did hold dual citizenship--US and Canadian, and renounced the Canadian one, but they will find a way to hold all of this against him, no matter what the case is.  So even if he is qualified by citizenship, it won't make a difference to lIVs or the Dems who tell them what to do and what to think.

Quote from: Charliemyboy on August 29, 2015, 07:23:32 AM
I like Cruz a lot, but the fact that he was born in Canada troubles me.  McCain was born in the Panama Canal zone to two US citizen parents, and they tried to eliminate him on that fact, even though he was born there because of his father's military posting.  Cruz would make a great president, IMO, but I fear that if he is the nominee, the Dems will pull something out of the hat after the conventions to try to disqualify him.  I think they are probably working on it now.  He did hold dual citizenship--US and Canadian, and renounced the Canadian one, but they will find a way to hold all of this against him, no matter what the case is.  So even if he is qualified by citizenship, it won't make a difference to lIVs or the Dems who tell them what to do and what to think.

Nope, the law is very clear on his legality being born to an American off American shores. He is still an American.

Quote from: Charliemyboy on August 29, 2015, 07:23:32 AM
I like Cruz a lot, but the fact that he was born in Canada troubles me.  McCain was born in the Panama Canal zone to two US citizen parents, and they tried to eliminate him on that fact, even though he was born there because of his father's military posting.  Cruz would make a great president, IMO, but I fear that if he is the nominee, the Dems will pull something out of the hat after the conventions to try to disqualify him.  I think they are probably working on it now.  He did hold dual citizenship--US and Canadian, and renounced the Canadian one, but they will find a way to hold all of this against him, no matter what the case is.  So even if he is qualified by citizenship, it won't make a difference to lIVs or the Dems who tell them what to do and what to think.

So?  What is with this defeatist attitude?

Quote from: Solar on August 28, 2015, 06:47:36 PM
This is what so many on the forum have been saying.

Why does Cruz look like a frontrunner now when he didn't two months ago? Mainly, I think, because the "electable" candidates have all looked weaker than expected, and not just vis-a-vis Trump. It's been fully eight months since Jeb Bush announced his exploratory committee and still no one's excited. He comes off like a less charismatic, more centrist Mitt Romney.

Jeb looks more or less shell-shocked, like the first stages of Hillary when her poll numbers started going south.  Maybe they thought the top slot was theirs, they'd already been "selected", just announce you're running for President as a formality.  I think Jeb and his backers thought it was a slam-dunk - same for Hillary, just announce and it'll come down to either Jeb or Hillary.  The question is, 'what is it gonna take to make it happen?"  I expect more HEAT from both candidates... sort of prove they've got the fire-in-the-belly.   Just for the hell-of-it, wouldn't you want to watch a debate between these two?  Both of them arguing for more government, bigger programs...  What a hoot!     It's apt to get down-right personal between them!

Quote from: Solar on August 28, 2015, 06:47:36 PM
Scott Walker can't seem to give a straight answer to tough immigration questions and he disappeared at the first debate, taking a beating for it in the polls. Increasingly it seems like Tom Coburn's assessment, that he's not ready for national primetime, might be right.

As much as I like Walker, he's basically walked away from his base and aligned himself with the establishment, he's toast unless he returns to his roots...   Brew up a big pot of TEA.  ...I think he could turn things around, but the landscape would needs changing.  (Trump drops out)

Quote from: Solar on August 28, 2015, 06:47:36 PM
Marco Rubio's in a different position from Bush and Walker in that he hasn't really disappointed — he excelled at the debate and his favorable ratings remain off the charts — but he seems to be everyone's second choice. Maybe he starts to move as Jeb fans accept that the dream of Bush 3.0 isn't happening and Walker's fans accept that the man who laid waste to the left in Wisconsin won't be the same wrecking ball as president, but it seems like voters might be stuck seeing Rubio as a guy who'll be perfect four or eight years from now. He looks like he's 30 years old. Why not make him wait?

Am I the only guy that associates Rubio with amnesty?    He was doing contortions to allow the illegals to stay here, has he really back-tracked from that unpopular idea?   Amnesty also brought national attention to Rubio, as long as the illegal aliens issue tops the pols, Rubio has nowhere to hide (unless he wants to be tagged with a flip-flopper).   How does one recuperate from getting caught with his hand in the Democratic issue-cookie-jar?   Deny-deny-deny?   "I was set-up?"   "That's not what I meant!!!"   "It was a vast left-wing Democratic conspiracy!"    ... where have I heard that "tone", recently...?   Compromiser.

Quote from: Solar on August 28, 2015, 06:47:36 PM
So the three "electable" guys in the race seem unelectable while Trump's candidacy, which started off looking like a stunt, turns increasingly serious. The expected "Bush vs. Not Bush" campaign appears, for the moment, to be a "Trump vs. Not Trump" contest instead. If you're in the "Not Trump" camp, who's left realistically except Ted Cruz? His right-wing competition, i.e. Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal, seems to be going nowhere. He's raised far more money than anyone expected he would, so he's likely to be competitive deep into next spring at least. He's well positioned in Iowa, South Carolina, and the "SEC primary" thanks to his evangelical cred. And as the staunchest conservative in the top tier, he's a natural draw for righties who dislike Trump because they believe (correctly) that he's a phony conservative.
More....
http://hotair.com/archives/2015/08/24/is-ted-cruz-the-new-frontrunner-for-the-nomination/

Right NOW...   if the election were held today, I think Trump would be the next President.  His support crosses party lines.  If there was a party named, "Fed up with Washington Party", Trump would be the candidate.  (so what else is new...?  Duh!)   I see this as a "It's Trump's to lose" ....  and his mistakes are quickly forgiven/overlooked by his supporters (sound like the current Prez...).  Speaking of which, did we forget Obama ALSO positioned himself as an outsider???

Which Cruz has not (he's pissed off the Senate).  Walker pissed off the Unions, Rubio pissed off the non-amnesty folks, come to think of it, there's a whole lotta pissed off voters.   The big exception, Ben Carson keeps on gaining in the pols.   

Carson is a pretty likable guy, and he's more than an egg-head, he easily connects with people.  Carson seems very safe and trustworthy.  Carson doesn't need to distance himself from the establishment, some bad/failed policy (we know of), and raise his voice in a defiant tone to get attention.  Can he manage a Presidency though...?  I think he's got a lot of common sense, and would hold accountable his people responsible to him.  Carson resonates pleasantly with people, without going negative, a contrary-to-Trump-candidate.

Does it seem like the mood-at-the-moment favors Trump, more than an educated electorate would?  I donno.   I do remember thinking to myself, "How could anyone vote for this convictionless, empty headed wind-bag?  Are Americans THAT stupid???"  (insert Clinton, Gore, Kerry, Obama)  and two of them got elected!

kj4adn,  I agree with you on Rubio.  He lost all credibility with the Gang of Eight.

But I am not with you on Dr. Carson.  During the Baltimore riots he praised the Mayor of Baltimore.      I couldn't believe my ears!  She is a real loser in my book!!
That definitely lowered my opinion of Dr. Carson!

Quote from: kroz on August 29, 2015, 07:58:08 AM
kj4adn,  I agree with you on Rubio.  He lost all credibility with the Gang of Eight.

But I am not with you on Dr. Carson.  During the Baltimore riots he praised the Mayor of Baltimore.      I couldn't believe my ears!  She is a real loser in my book!!
That definitely lowered my opinion of Dr. Carson!

I'm not sure Carson is a conservative.  I really like him, and he is strong on some issues, but he's said stuff that gives me pause.

Quote from: taxed on August 29, 2015, 07:59:25 AM
I'm not sure Carson is a conservative.  I really like him, and he is strong on some issues, but he's said stuff that gives me pause.

Yep, it's that core values thing that's lacking.

Quote from: taxed on August 29, 2015, 07:59:25 AM
I'm not sure Carson is a conservative.  I really like him, and he is strong on some issues, but he's said stuff that gives me pause.

Agreed on that.   His demeanor is universally appealing, and like Trump, I think he's learning the game as he goes - lacks luster.

Quote from: kj4adn on August 29, 2015, 08:17:57 AM
Agreed on that.   His demeanor is universally appealing, and like Trump, I think he's learning the game as he goes - lacks luster.

Nailed it!

Quote from: kroz on August 29, 2015, 07:58:08 AM
kj4adn,  I agree with you on Rubio.  He lost all credibility with the Gang of Eight.

But I am not with you on Dr. Carson.  During the Baltimore riots he praised the Mayor of Baltimore.      I couldn't believe my ears!  She is a real loser in my book!!
That definitely lowered my opinion of Dr. Carson!

They all have negatives withvthexexception of Cruz. I like Rubio a lot. I was really disappointed that he was so easily manipulated by the DEMOCRATS on amnesty. Maybe in the future, but not this election cycle.

Carson isn't ready either. He's also too mild mannered for the job. We need a FIGHTER.

Quote from: carlb on August 30, 2015, 06:15:54 PM
They all have negatives withvthexexception of Cruz. I like Rubio a lot. I was really disappointed that he was so easily manipulated by the DEMOCRATS on amnesty. Maybe in the future, but not this election cycle.

Actually Rubio went in with the intention of joining the Gang of eight.
He outright lied to Florida TEA for their support.

QuoteCarson isn't ready either. He's also too mild mannered for the job. We need a FIGHTER.

Absolutely agree. He needs to run for local office first, at least get some kind of political experience before taking on the WH.
The fact that he was even considered for the position in the first place screams of RINO conspiracy involvement in splitting the vote.