Come on. That's not an answer.

 

How can he win the middle voters?

You might ask how a socialist like Obama could win the middle, but he did.

Go the Mitt Romney and John McCain route. Proven methods to grab 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

 

Um, they both lost.

I like Rand Paul but I just don't see him as a serious threat to win the nomination. Karl Rove and the other Rockefeller Republicans do not want Rand Paul to win the nomination, and unlike Cruz, I don't think that he is aggressive enough to take on the national GOP leadership and win.

 

I mean, the best way to determine how big of a threat someone is IMO determining what their fundraising numbers, their access to donors (big AND small), who has the best ground game and who has more people/activists following them.

 

Rand beats Cruz and the rest of the GOP field in every category (with the exception of Jeb Bush, an argument could be made).

 

And if you want to be President of the US, you cannot always kick every barking dog -- especially in your own party. Cruz has had to learn that the hard way and has recently shown some restraint.

 

Like it or not, you cannot win the GOP nomination without the Establishment hacks support. At least not yet. We need a unified party come 2016. Rand is bridging the gap between Tea Party and Establishment R's.

 

Cruz is an awesome speaker, good campaigner, and can light a fire in a crowds belly to help mobilize. However, I don't see him unifying the party.

You might ask how a socialist like Obama could win the middle' date=' but he did.[/quote']

 

So we're not getting an answer?

That said, I will gladly cast a vote for Cruz if he is the nominee come 2016.

Um, they both lost.

 

Ding ding ding.

So we're not getting an answer?

You got an answer. If you don't like it, then read it again for good measure.

You got an answer. If you don't like it' date=' then read it again for good measure.[/quote']

 

The way Sen Cruz wins those voters is what?

The way Sen Cruz wins those voters is what?

 

Making them hate/dislike Hillary so much, they either vote for you, or don't vote.

 

Either way, it's a good thing for hypothetical GOP POTUS nominee Ted Cruz.

I like Rand Paul but I just don't see him as a serious threat to win the nomination. Karl Rove and the other Rockefeller Republicans do not want Rand Paul to win the nomination, and unlike Cruz, I don't think that he is aggressive enough to take on the national GOP leadership and win.

 

Actually Rand has been the Republican front-runner for awhile now.

 

I think Rove and the establishment already see him as a legitimate threat and polling indicates he is.

 

The biggest factor playing for him is his ability to swing young adults and independents by taking hard stances on civil liberty issues (NSA, indefinite detention, TSA) while still keeping the conservative base happy.

 

The primary kicks off in Iowa, a caucus state, which plays to Team Rand's strengths. If he takes Iowa, he'll have a good chance of taking New Hampshire. His father placed 2nd with 23% of the vote.

I mean, the best way to determine how big of a threat someone is IMO determining what their fundraising numbers, their access to donors (big AND small), who has the best ground game and who has more people/activists following them.

 

Rand beats Cruz and the rest of the GOP field in every category (with the exception of Jeb Bush, an argument could be made).

 

And if you want to be President of the US, you cannot always kick every barking dog -- especially in your own party. Cruz has had to learn that the hard way and has recently shown some restraint.

 

Like it or not, you cannot win the GOP nomination without the Establishment hacks support. At least not yet. We need a unified party come 2016. Rand is bridging the gap between Tea Party and Establishment R's.

 

Cruz is an awesome speaker, good campaigner, and can light a fire in a crowds belly to help mobilize. However, I don't see him unifying the party.

The Republican primaries are going to be a wild fight between candidates with very different agendas. I expect Rand Paul to endorse Ted Cruz, or vice-versa, depending on which one runs out of money first. Hopefully, the number of conservative candidates will be whittled down fairly quickly so that he can focus on whichever RINO(s) are left in the race.

 

I do not believe that voters are used to candidates like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, who will actually cling to an unpopular position and work to persuade people to move to that position. That is the kind of leadership that has been missing in the White House since Ronald Reagan left.

 

Republicans united behind Reagan when he won the nomination and I believe that they will do the same if a true conservative wins the nomination in 2016. I doubt that any of the RINO candidates will turn out a large conservative vote if they win the nomination. I will not support Chris Christie or Jeb Bush under any circumstances.

I'd vote for any of these people. Ted Cruz can probably increase the Hispanic vote for the Republicans.

 

I guess anybody could say free money and phones for everybody. No more income tax and lots of voters that previously voted for the Democrats may have to at least pause and think why are they really voting for the Democrats.

Actually Rand has been the Republican front-runner for awhile now.

 

I think Rove and the establishment already see him as a legitimate threat and polling indicates he is.

 

The biggest factor playing for him is his ability to swing young adults and independents by taking hard stances on civil liberty issues (NSA, indefinite detention, TSA) while still keeping the conservative base happy.

 

The primary kicks off in Iowa, a caucus state, which plays to Team Rand's strengths. If he takes Iowa, he'll have a good chance of taking New Hampshire. His father placed 2nd with 23% of the vote.

I agree with your comments but being a frontrunner this early does not really matter much. He is a much better candidate than his father was.

 

Ted Cruz shares many of the same positions as Rand Paul, but IMO, he is by far the best debater and speaker in the field. Both of them can rightfully point to consistent records opposing Obama's deconstruction of our healthcare system and erosion of our civil liberties.

 

I will gladly vote for Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, or Ben Carson if either of them win the nomination. I will not vote for a candidate that will make Reince Priebus and Karl Rove happy.

Making them hate/dislike Hillary so much' date=' they either vote for you, or don't vote. Either way, it's a good thing for hypothetical GOP POTUS nominee Ted Cruz.[/quote']

 

I could see that helping his cause.

 

Hillary does add intrigue to the equation.

I'd rather a politician tell me why I should vote for them than why I shouldn't vote for the other guy/gal.