Will the Republican Establishment support Ted Cruz if he is the Nominee?

[hopper]

So will Establishment Republicans throw their support to Ted Cruz if he is their nominee for the President of the United States? In my opinion I think they will because he doesn't say dumb things like Donald Trump and he looks like a Mainstream Conservative(which he isn't) idealogically when compared to Trump.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

They certainly won't go out of their way to campaign for him though, and at least a few members will probably declare open season on their top candidate to raise publicity.

[Suburbia]

Some of them will support Cruz if he is the nominee. Some of them. They view him as more acceptable than Trump, who is unpredictable.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Yes.

[/]

Yes.

[cinyc]

No.  The Republican establishment are a bunch of petulant children who sulk and whine when they don't get their way.  They will not support a non-establishment candidate like Cruz because he's not one of them.

[Brittain33]

Define "support." They'll do the minimum that they wouldn't do for Trump, but not much more.

[ElectionsGuy]

They'll endorse him publicly, but won't support him or campaign for him in any way.

[andrew_c]

Yes, but reluctantly.

[President Johnson]

Yes, but reluctantly.

[ag]

They will, but without enthusiasm. There will be public endorsements and a lot of private concern. Do not expect much campaigning for him or with him, or much campaign or money coordination from too many governors/senators, though: too many dislike him personally.

[ag]

No.  The Republican establishment are a bunch of petulant children who sulk and whine when they don't get their way.  They will not support a non-establishment candidate like Cruz because he's not one of them.

The main reason they will not support him is because a lot of people very much dislike him personally and have aprehensions about what his presidency would turn out to be. Few people are going to break with the party on this, but quite a few would very much prefer a different Republican to win in 2020 instead. This has little to do with Cruz not being "part of the establishment," but more to do why he is not: he is personally unlikable and not interested in or incapable of any team play. An ideologically identical politician without those handicaps would not have had any problems of the sort.

[Blair]

The RINO's or sane guys (however you see them) like Colin Powell, Dick Lugar etc may support Clinton but the establishment will support him without a doubt. Unlike Trump or Carson I trust he'd be able to actually operate the White House (he'd just use it as a death star)

[Frodo]

Doubt it -they will mouth all the appropriate platitudes about supporting whomever becomes the GOP nominee, but behind the scenes they will likely aid Hillary Clinton while subtly stabbing Ted Cruz in the back.   

[Hillary pays minimum wage]

Doubt it -they will mouth all the appropriate platitudes about supporting whomever becomes the GOP nominee, but behind the scenes they will likely aid Hillary Clinton while subtly stabbing Ted Cruz in the back.   

What evidence do you have of this? I thought on here we had to quote statistics and give reasoning, but apparently that's only the Republicans here who have to do such things. 

[Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy]

The establishment secretly supports Trump over Cruz. They all hate Cruz.

lol.no

[Lincoln Republican]

Of course!

[tallguy23]

Cruz is hated by the GOP the way DWS is hated by the Dems. Having said that, he'll get more support than Trump but many view him as another Goldwater.

[tpfkaw]

Depends on how we're defining "establishment."

Establishment-oriented conservative media: Yes, and with real or feigned enthusiasm.

Party officials: Yes, with feigned enthusiasm. Expect a constant stream of "leaks" and negative gossip, however.

Officeholders and candidates: Yes, with a few exceptions in very blue states/districts. If Clinton has a substantial poll lead, moderates and those in close races might refuse to campaign with him.

Large donors: Only the more right-leaning ones. A good number would defect to Hillary, depending on how much she (and Cruz) pivots to the center.

[ag]

The establishment secretly supports Trump over Cruz. They all hate Cruz.

lol.no

Actually, while a lot of people might be horrified by Trump, they do not detest him as much as they personally detest Cruz. It is a question, which feeling is stronger.

[ag]

Cruz is hated by the GOP the way DWS is hated by the Dems. Having said that, he'll get more support than Trump but many view him as another Goldwater.

Goldwater was well liked and trusted by many. Cruz is not.

[Torie]

No, not really, although in general those in power will in a pro forma way "support" him. Some I think believe that he would just be a really bad POTUS, and very hard to work with. Many who are private citizens, will vote for Hillary. I know I would. He's just too risky a scheme. Granted I am a registered Democrat now, but whatever.