Many people have discussed the risks of putting all your viable candidacy eggs in the evangelical basket. An article via CNN outlines a group of Super-PACs and donor interests who are now setting Ted Cruz in the cross hairs.
This CNN article highlights one of the biggest challenges for any candidate who is unable to build a broad and diverse base of support. Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee are all relying heavily on Iowa voters. Similarly, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, John Kasich, and again, Marco Rubio (firewall) are dependent on success with New Hampshire voters. Meanwhile the breakaway frontrunner, Donald Trump, targets America-first voters, the biggest, strongest and most broad base of them all.
Washington (CNN) – Ted Cruz, staring at hundreds of thousands of dollars in negative advertisements against him in Iowa that show only signs of growing, is battling to keep pace there with his most aggressive push yet to maintain his momentum in the Hawkeye State. On Wednesday, the day that a fourth and fifth independent group launched paid media campaigns attacking Cruz as out of touch with Iowa Republicans, Cruz’s campaign sent word that he will launch a 36-county, six-day tour right after the new year, his most extensive trip of the state so far. Cruz is expected to spend much of January solidifying his lead in Iowa, where he has risen from the middle of the pack to front-runner status over the course of two months.
But that surge is also inviting scrutiny. Cruz returns to Iowa as five independent groups, most run by backers of Marco Rubio and Mike Huckabee, are stirring voters’ doubts by spending about $600,000 against the Texas senator in direct mail, digital and radio advertisements and on television. On Wednesday, two of those groups tied to a prominent Iowa GOP operative released new advertisements that paint Cruz as being less consistent than he makes himself out to be in Iowa town halls and churches.
That negative messaging has yet to resonate with Iowa Republicans, 31% of whom said in the most recent poll done by the Des Moines Register that they plan to support Cruz. But the intensifying offensive speaks to just how much noise will surround Cruz as he seeks to deliver his message in person in the run-up to the Feb. 1 caucuses.
“Ted Cruz has been parading around Iowa trying to hoodwink conservatives, and these ads showcase that he’s willing to say anything to get elected,” said Nick Ryan, the Iowa strategist behind much of the advertising. “Fact is, he’s wrong on the issues and values that Iowa conservatives really care about.” (read more)
