<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>A <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonChron">@HoustonChron</a> EXCLUSIVE: <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz">@TedCruz</a> will announce on Monday that he will run for President of the United States. | <a href="http://t.co/jTtrhoaueU">http://t.co/jTtrhoaueU</a></p>— Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) <a href="https://twitter.com/teddyschleifer/status/579494243464392705">March 22, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Because he was a citizen at birth despite being born outside of the United States. It's similar to how McCain was able to run in 2008 even though he was born in Panama.
This pretty much sums up my opinion: "I don't consider him a mainstream candidate, and usually to win you've got to be inside the 45-yard lines," said Greg Valliere, a political adviser to Wall Street firms who believes that if Cruz did earn the nomination, he would not win more than a dozen states in the general election. "The enthusiasm for him will be tremendous in maybe a third of the party, but another third of the party will be strongly opposed and another third of the party will be wary."
This sums up my opinion: Ted Cruz only chance to win the GOP nomination is for every other candidate to drop dead.
Its like a comedy reel on the republican side...these guys are just so out of touch. That being said, I'd probably vote for Rand (he backtracked on the vaccine BS, was also being misinterpreted partly) hopefully he learned a thing or two from his dad.
So Teddy is to announce his presidential run in Virginia, rather than Texas, the state he supposedly represents in the Senate. Makes perfect sense.
Underestimate Cruz at your peril. I haven't decided who I will vote for. It won't be Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton. Their ships have sailed, especially Hillary. Besides name recognition, what has she ever really accomplished? No signature legislation, no memorable accomplishment as Secretary of State. Seriously, and she has tons of baggage. I do know this, I want a grown up, not a petulant child. But not too "grown up." Hillary is an old lady. The Presidency is too much for an elderly female with concussion issues.
Everyone already knows who and what Hillary Clinton is. She won't surprise anyone. The Republicans will simply expose themselves as fools, lunatics and frauds to a national audience. I think Hillary is a terrible choice but she will wipe the floor with these clowns.
Traditionally speaking, in the presidential election, the younger candidate has almost always won the general election. Hillary Clinton is OLD, she'll be taking office in her 70s. Whoever she goes up against, this will be an issue and can play into the favor of a younger candidate, even one as right as Cruz. Politics aside though, Cruz is a genius, and has the resume that would be befitting of a presidential candidate. Hispanic background, top of his class at Princeton & Harvard Law. Alan Dershowitz even said this guy's intellect blew everyone away at Harvard Law school. He's an impressive person, politics aside. I'm a political independent and will wait to see how the field shakes out, but looking from afar I can envision a situation where Cruz becomes president, especially if Hillary Clinton once AGAIN is betting against a young, upstart senator.
Clinton is old, corrupt, incompetent, and it will be easy for any candidate not named Bush to portray her as such. The Clinton Foundation is like the Lincoln bedroom on steroids. And nobody wants to dig too deep into Bill's multiple trips to pedophile island.
I don't think Cruz's staff is experienced enough to handle the media scrutiny that comes with a presidential campaign. Mainly, I don't think his chief of staff or political strategists have done a good job developing a winning presidential image or platform. I also don't think he is going to be able to raise enough money or get the endorsements needed for visibility. My prediction is that he will rise to the top and then fall back like Bachmann and Cain during the last cycle.
I'm an independent too. Ted Cruz wouldn't beat an actual donkey in the general election. It won't come to that because so many in his own party can't stand the guy. He's a flame-thrower. Flame-throwers don't get elected president. To win a major party's nomination (much less a general election), a candidate has to have some skills as a uniter. Cruz has spent the last 2 1/2 years deliberately dividing his own party to gain leverage (which has failed). There is no scenario where he becomes president or even the GOP nominee. It's early, but my read on the guy is he's smart enough to know he has no chance to be president. He will use this campaign to launch himself towards whatever post-Senate career he's angling for. Or maybe he is planning on a long Senate career and will try to leverage his public support for the 2016 nominee into a coveted chairmanship. IMO, he will fail miserably.
He's way more of a heavyweight than Bachmann and Cain. He's also extremely well educated and will be backed by a lot of big money. He's a Republican Senator from Texas. Bachmann was a Congressional representative from a left leaning state in Minnesota and Cain was a nobody who never had a chance. There is a massive difference in profile here.
As someone with a bit of inside knowledge, just trust me. Edit: And I don't mean to be arrogant by saying that. There are just some things that I can't say on a public forum.
