Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is aggressively packaging himself to fit the social conservative strategy.
This time, they really mean it: Christian right leaders are trying to come together and
throw their weight behind one chosen candidate to overcome the establishment choice in the Republican presidential primary. Their failures to do just that in 2008 and 2012, and the looming specter of Jeb Bush, are motivating forces, and:
In secret straw polls and exclusive meetings from Iowa to California, the leaders are weighing the relative appeal and liabilities of potential standard-bearers like Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and former Govs. Rick Perry of Texas and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. [...]
They plan to unify behind an anti-establishment candidate by summer or early fall, with the expectation that they will be able to overcome any fund-raising advantage of the Republican elite by exerting their own influence through right-wing talk radio and social media, and by mobilizing an army of like-minded small donors.
Ted Cruz speaks directly to the strategic vision of these Christian right leaders when he
argues that "The only way to win is to bring back to the polls the millions of conservatives who have been staying home." Where establishment Republicans want the furthest right candidate who won't turn off everyone outside the Republican base by things like talking openly about opposing abortion even in cases of rape and incest, these far-right social conservatives want a candidate who will do exactly that, and they have quite a few choices.
One big question is whether they can unite around one candidate, or whether the coming-together effort will splinter as 10 different radio hosts and anti-abortion organization leaders each try to be the kingmaker by anointing their own candidates. And even if they do, can they overcome the entire, freaked-out, big-money Republican establishment?