With the Iowa caucuses now in the rear view mirror, here’s what I see ahead for the Republican candidates for president.
Sen. Ted Cruz: Cruz was expected by some to come in second to Donald Trump, but Trump didn’t have the effective grassroots volunteer organization that Cruz had. Trump skipped the Iowa debate and failed to have a surrogate to stand up for him in the caucuses.
Despite the win, if you can call the process which is normally referred to as a “beauty contest” a win, it isn’t likely to propel him to victory in New Hampshire. It is said that New Hampshire doesn’t reward the Iowa winner. While he trailed Trump by four points going into the Iowa caucuses, he trails Trump by 19 points in New Hampshire.
I was disappointed in the Cruz acceptance speech. Frankly, if Fox didn’t break in at the 39-minute mark, I would have reached for the remote. What should have been a brief series of “thank you’s” turned into a long drawn out campaign speech; all of which we have heard before. While Cruz has the ability to include a bit of humor, for the most part I believe he’s wound too tight. Listening to Cruz, I am often reminded of an Obama long-winded response to a question.
(Copy of voter warning sent to voters in Iowa.)
I was also disappointed in the dirty politics of the Cruz campaign. Over the weekend he issued an official-looking voter warning paper. Click here to read details. Yesterday, Dr. Ben Carson charged the Cruz campaign with e-mailing voters not to waste a vote for Carson because he was bowing out of the race. Click here to see details.
Sen. Marco Rubio: Rubio surprised many with his strong third place showing just one point behind Trump and just four behind Cruz. And Rubio goes into New Hampshire just one point behind Cruz and tied for fourth with Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who has put most of his eggs in the New Hampshire basket.
Rubio’s Iowa “thank you” speech was brief and to the point. Click here if you missed it. I am hoping he will catch on with New Hampshire voters. Looking ahead, if you haven’t heard, he has received the endorsement of S.C. Sen. Tim Scott. The South Carolina primary follows the New Hampshire party.
There’s a certain likeability about Rubio I simply don’t see in Cruz, who always appears to me like an attorney making a case for his client in court.
Donald Trump: I was somewhat surprised with his “thank you” speech in Iowa, recognizing that he doesn’t like to lose. While I believe he exaggerated his “love” for Iowa and Iowans, even to the point that he said he might like to buy a farm there, he did appear, he was brief and polite. He has a 19-point lead over Cruz in New Hampshire today.
I appreciate the fact that Trump has energized voters, but I am hopeful that voters will see the talent we have in Cruz and Rubio.
