National Review: Ted Cruz is eyeing presidential run

[Blue3]

So, what chance would Cruz have at winning the nomination in 2016?

Especially if the moderates are divided between Christie and Rubio.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01/ted-cruz-2016_n_3192192.html

[Maxwell]

I think chances could be alright, especially if immigration is Rubio's waterloo and Rand Paul fumbles the ball completely.

If so, than he would lose badly to whoever takes the nomination on the Democratic side.

[TNF]

I think this actually bodes well for Christie. There are going to be so many loons running that it dilutes the conservative vote significantly and allows him to market himself as electable and take the nomination. Basically a Carter '76 strategy for Christie.

[RogueBeaver]

No chance at winning, just makes the conservative primary even more complex as TNF said.

[NVGonzalez]

God I hope this is true...

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Rubio is considered a moderate?

[Joe Biden 2020]

I'm a Democrat, and want the Democrats to win in 2016, but I want a fair fight and a long night!

[Blue3]

Rubio is considered a moderate?

Now he is considered a moderate by the GOP base, after sponsoring immigration reform. Not as bad as Christie though.

[RogueBeaver]

Being a moderate on an issue or 2 isn't moderation as a whole. It would be like calling Schweitzer a ConservaDem because of guns and coal, while ignoring single-payer.

[Benj]

I think this actually bodes well for Christie. There are going to be so many loons running that it dilutes the conservative vote significantly and allows him to market himself as electable and take the nomination. Basically a Carter '76 strategy for Christie.

One might also call it McCain 2008 or Romney 2012.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

God I hope this is true...

[Lambsbread]

God I hope this is true...

[ShadowRocket]

He'd be a poor choice, but I could maybe see him get the VP nod if Christie is the nominee since he'd have to placate the far-right of the party.

But I don't think he'll win the nomination.

[bedstuy]

He can win the Republican nomination.

He's conservative on every single issue.  He has the debating chops.  He's extremely intelligent.  And, perhaps he can raise money from Texas and through the grassroots. 

On the negative side, he may just split up the conservative vote if we have Santorum, Rubio, Paul, et al running.  Also, he comes off as extremely self-satisfied, smarmy and creepy.  But, a lot of Republicans like that personality (See Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Newt Gingrich).

[bballrox4717]

I don't think Ted Cruz is capable of winning the nomination. Republicans have to realize he is single handily the worst person they could nominate and Cruz consistently antagonizes almost every national politician.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Ted Cruz could quite easily bump the Democratic Nominee into the plus side of 450.

[Blue3]

Being a moderate on an issue or 2 isn't moderation as a whole. It would be like calling Schweitzer a ConservaDem because of guns and coal, while ignoring single-payer.

Tell that to the current GOP base.

[MadmanMotley]

If Rand Paul runs, Cruz will not.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Let's see his birth certificate first.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Awwww....  I think he thinks he's Obama...

[Blue3]

If Rand Paul runs, Cruz will not.

Paul is not mainstream GOP, Cruz is. They may both be Tea Party, but they're on opposite ends of it.

[NHI]

Cruz running only helps Christie.

[Mister Mets]

I don't like Cruz, but he has a shot at winning the nomination.

Conservative voters like his stance on the issues, and a 40-something Latino with an impressive record at Harvard is useful for rebranding the party after old white guys like McCain, Cheney, Romney and Gingrich, and intellectual lightweights like W, Perry and Palin.

There is the idea that several conservative contenders (Cruz, Rubio, Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, Jindal, Walker) would split the vote, but it's also possible that the one guy who manages to break out will be able to stay in first place (while 2012 saw the rise and fall of multiple Non-Romneys.) And that could easily be Cruz.

He has several problems. He's tonally unpleasant, which isn't an attribute common to presidents. He's abrasive. And he won't have a lot of support within the party.

[Maxwell]

If Rand Paul runs, Cruz will not.

Paul is not mainstream GOP, Cruz is. They may both be Tea Party, but they're on opposite ends of it.

The Pauls are how Cruz won the primary against Dewhurst. Cruz mastered a strategy of uniting harder wing conservatives. He might've been the only candidate that both Santorum and the Pauls endorsed. At least during the campaign, Cruz showed some anti-Patriot Act feelings, so while I agree Cruz is fairly opportunistic, I think he will realize there is a bit too much overlap if he runs at the same time as Rand Paul.

[Ogre Mage]

Rubio is considered a moderate?

There is confusion because of one issue (immigration) and the fact he uses moderate rhetoric.  But his voting record is one of the more conservative in the Senate (per National Journal he was the 13th most conservative senator in 2011, Heritage had him as the 3rd most conservative in 2012).  Overall he probably straddles the line between mainline conservatism and hard-right.