Why Ted Cruz Is a Long Shot for President

[DonViejo]

Nate Cohn: “Political scientists argue that the single most important determinant of the outcome of the nomination is support from party elites: those operatives who can staff a winning campaign; the donors who fund it; the elected officials and interest group leaders who bestow the credibility necessary to persuade voters and affect media coverage.”

“The candidate with the most support from party elites doesn’t always win the nomination, but support from elites is probably a prerequisite for victory… Mr. Cruz has done nothing to endear himself to the elites.”

The Atlantic: “Why is Cruz a longshot? He’s a first-term senator (yes, yes, exceptions and rules, etc.). He’s probably too conservative even to win a GOP primary, but particularly to win a general election: Even his backers portray him as a latter-day Barry Goldwater, only somehow able to win. In just a few short months, he has managed to consistently alienate even his Republican colleagues — which, whatever you think of the merits of Senate courtesy, won’t help in a primary campaign.”

Dan Balz: “If there is a senator who has had chillier relations with his colleagues, it would be hard to name that person.”

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