Texas GOP Senate Runoff

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

On exactly what is this notion being based on that Cruz is in any danger of losing the seat to the Democrats?


I would think this is one case where the TP challenger has a better chance then the establishment guy by virtue of being younger, a great debater, and is able to motivate a large following.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Is the difference that great between the two's performances in the polls as to be more than just name recognition?


Applying a uniform standard across all these states is big mistake and I have said the same when the TP was going on about killing all the rinos. In some states, the establishment candidate is the best, but all my criteria are saying this isn't one of them.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

But the rest of the nation isn't ready for libertarian conservatives like Rand Paul.

There is no way a republican can lose in Texas, and the people are tired of guys who hang around lobbyists all the time.

I would agree with that, at least at this time, but Dewhurst would do much better in a general election nonetheless.  Cruz is a good candidate, maybe even better overall than Dewhurst, but his nomination would set a dangerous precedent for the GOP in other states (much like candidates like Bill Brady, Christine O'Donnell, Sharron Angle, and Ken Buck did two years ago) that aren't as conservative/Republican of nominating far-right, unelectable candidates and losing more and more elections because of it.  Bill Buckley always said to support the most conservative candidate who can win, and while Cruz may be that candidate, nominating him will encourage Republicans in other states to do the same with candidates who are too fat-right for the general electorate.  If we had heeded Buckley's advice in 2010, Harry Reid would not be a Senator today, and neither would Chris Coons or Michael Bennet.  Pat Quinn would also not be Governor of Illinois today.  I'll just say this once to my fellow Republicans, but it's your party, and you'll lose if you want to.

A point which makes no sense because we have already had Indiana and Nebraska this year plus all the primaries in the previous cycle. The precedent for throwing off establishment candidates is well set going all the way back to 2008 when Jason Chaffetz defeated Chris Cannon in the UT-03 GOP primary.

You also stated previously that you agreed with my point about not applying a uniform standard to all these states yet you essentially doing that here now saying that unless you support the establishment candidate everywhere, he will lose everywhere.

Plus losing 5 points on the general election margin (something which I doubt considering that Cruz has every potential to outperform Dewhurst as underperform him. I should note that in atleast one poll the Democrats poll the same against them, furthering the case for the difference to be a familiarity gap), is well worth it considering a choice between a corrupted insider and energetic challanger. Even more so when you consider there is little daylight ideologically between them, either.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The runoff is next Tuesday, correct?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Glad you gone my way, I love it when were "cruzin" together!