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| Ted Cruz finds a core of support among social conservatives frustrated with GOP | Ted Cruz finds a core of support among social conservatives frustrated with GOP |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| While there is not yet a front-runner in the early race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) is quickly becoming the favored contender of social conservatives, riding a recent wave of fiery speeches and standing ovations at right-wing conferences. | While there is not yet a front-runner in the early race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) is quickly becoming the favored contender of social conservatives, riding a recent wave of fiery speeches and standing ovations at right-wing conferences. |
| Cruz’s core supporters on the right are the activists and high-powered interest groups determined to keep faith-infused positions at the center of the Republican Party, regardless of a push by some in the GOP to seek distance from socially conservative stands on marriage and abortion. | Cruz’s core supporters on the right are the activists and high-powered interest groups determined to keep faith-infused positions at the center of the Republican Party, regardless of a push by some in the GOP to seek distance from socially conservative stands on marriage and abortion. |
| Greg Mueller, a conservative strategist who has worked on three Republican presidential campaigns, said what’s fueling Cruz’s rise is a fierce determination by social conservatives not to be dictated to in 2016, as he believes they were in the past two elections and told to rally around more centrist nominees. | Greg Mueller, a conservative strategist who has worked on three Republican presidential campaigns, said what’s fueling Cruz’s rise is a fierce determination by social conservatives not to be dictated to in 2016, as he believes they were in the past two elections and told to rally around more centrist nominees. |
| “Many social conservatives feel their issues have been kicked to the side and they are frustrated. Someone like Cruz taking the nomination in 2016 would give them a voice again,” he said. “It’s still early, and there are many potential candidates that could appeal to this base, but there is no question Senator Cruz has some early momentum with them. He hits all of the main themes the conservative base want to hear.” | “Many social conservatives feel their issues have been kicked to the side and they are frustrated. Someone like Cruz taking the nomination in 2016 would give them a voice again,” he said. “It’s still early, and there are many potential candidates that could appeal to this base, but there is no question Senator Cruz has some early momentum with them. He hits all of the main themes the conservative base want to hear.” |
| Conservatives see an opening in the disarray in the GOP establishment, which has yet to settle on its preferred candidate amid former Florida governor Jeb Bush’s indecision about running and the troubles of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has seen his administration embroiled by a scandal over last year’s politically motivated closure of traffic lanes near the George Washington Bridge. | Conservatives see an opening in the disarray in the GOP establishment, which has yet to settle on its preferred candidate amid former Florida governor Jeb Bush’s indecision about running and the troubles of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has seen his administration embroiled by a scandal over last year’s politically motivated closure of traffic lanes near the George Washington Bridge. |
| There is a brewing sense on the right that if a well-financed establishment Republican isn’t surging ahead, conservative Republicans could capture the nomination, with a consensus candidate eventually toppling whoever emerges weakened as the favorite of GOP financiers and party officials. | There is a brewing sense on the right that if a well-financed establishment Republican isn’t surging ahead, conservative Republicans could capture the nomination, with a consensus candidate eventually toppling whoever emerges weakened as the favorite of GOP financiers and party officials. |
| Seeking a charismatic, youthful and unrepentant champion who also holds traditional GOP views on foreign and economic policy, many leading figures in the conservative movement have begun to coalesce around Cruz, 43, as their best shot at elevating a fellow hard-liner. | Seeking a charismatic, youthful and unrepentant champion who also holds traditional GOP views on foreign and economic policy, many leading figures in the conservative movement have begun to coalesce around Cruz, 43, as their best shot at elevating a fellow hard-liner. |
| Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, has known Cruz since they worked together on George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign. He believes Cruz would do “extremely well” with social conservatives. | Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, has known Cruz since they worked together on George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign. He believes Cruz would do “extremely well” with social conservatives. |
| “He is a devout person of faith and an outstanding speaker. Cruz knows the language and understands these people,” he said. | “He is a devout person of faith and an outstanding speaker. Cruz knows the language and understands these people,” he said. |
| Reed also believes that having the support of religious conservatives will pay dividends for Cruz should he run in 2016. “There is no question that social conservatives are an indispensable and vital constituency to the Republican Party,” he said. “Our analysis shows that the number of born-again Christians voting in the 2012 primaries and caucuses was the highest percentage since we began counting in 1988.” | Reed also believes that having the support of religious conservatives will pay dividends for Cruz should he run in 2016. “There is no question that social conservatives are an indispensable and vital constituency to the Republican Party,” he said. “Our analysis shows that the number of born-again Christians voting in the 2012 primaries and caucuses was the highest percentage since we began counting in 1988.” |
| At a gathering of politically active evangelical Christians and tea party conservatives last weekend, Cruz won huge cheers for a rollicking speech and came in first in the Values Voter Summit straw poll for the second year running, albeit with a significantly reduced margin. This year, 25 percent chose him as their favorite for the 2016 nomination, followed by Ben Carson — a pediatric neurosurgeon who is another grass-roots favorite — at 20 percent. | |
| Cruz was relentless and extemporaneous as he roamed the stage during his address at the conference. | Cruz was relentless and extemporaneous as he roamed the stage during his address at the conference. |
| “How do we win? We defend the values that are American values,” Cruz said as he pulled the roaring crowd to its feet. “We stand for life. We stand for marriage. We stand for Israel. We bring back jobs and opportunity and unleash small businesses to make it easier for people to achieve the American dream.” | “How do we win? We defend the values that are American values,” Cruz said as he pulled the roaring crowd to its feet. “We stand for life. We stand for marriage. We stand for Israel. We bring back jobs and opportunity and unleash small businesses to make it easier for people to achieve the American dream.” |
| Longtime Republican consultant Ed Rollins said that even as he watches Cruz’s ascend, others hardly on the party’s map could become challengers for Cruz’s base, particularly former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. | Longtime Republican consultant Ed Rollins said that even as he watches Cruz’s ascend, others hardly on the party’s map could become challengers for Cruz’s base, particularly former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. |
| “Mike has always thought 2016 would be his cycle,” said Rollins, who advised Huckabee’s unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign. “I think he’s getting ready to go. Every sign out there is that he’s thinking hard about it.” | “Mike has always thought 2016 would be his cycle,” said Rollins, who advised Huckabee’s unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign. “I think he’s getting ready to go. Every sign out there is that he’s thinking hard about it.” |
| Rollins said Huckabee’s populism connects with the working-class voters in the early primary states, as does his preacher’s cadence. Huckabee’s liabilities would be his history of weak fundraising and his support for Common Core, a set of national education standards opposed by many tea party conservatives. | Rollins said Huckabee’s populism connects with the working-class voters in the early primary states, as does his preacher’s cadence. Huckabee’s liabilities would be his history of weak fundraising and his support for Common Core, a set of national education standards opposed by many tea party conservatives. |
| Huckabee was also at the Values Voters Summit, shaking hands in the hallways with college Republicans and urging evangelicals to get back into the arena with force ahead of 2016. | Huckabee was also at the Values Voters Summit, shaking hands in the hallways with college Republicans and urging evangelicals to get back into the arena with force ahead of 2016. |
| Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), another much-discussed 2016 candidate who came in first in the 2014 Conservative Political Action Committee straw poll — another key barometer of social conservative sentiment — also spoke at the summit, albeit with a different approach. Paul’s low-key speech hit on a number of themes, from his antiabortion views to religious liberty. Both senators quoted from the Bible — Paul from Corinthians and Cruz from Psalms. | Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), another much-discussed 2016 candidate who came in first in the 2014 Conservative Political Action Committee straw poll — another key barometer of social conservative sentiment — also spoke at the summit, albeit with a different approach. Paul’s low-key speech hit on a number of themes, from his antiabortion views to religious liberty. Both senators quoted from the Bible — Paul from Corinthians and Cruz from Psalms. |
| Paul, who has labored this year to expand the GOP’s reach in minority communities and win over younger voters, is positioning himself to be a viable candidate for the Christian right but not necessarily entirely reliant on their support as he builds a presidential campaign. | Paul, who has labored this year to expand the GOP’s reach in minority communities and win over younger voters, is positioning himself to be a viable candidate for the Christian right but not necessarily entirely reliant on their support as he builds a presidential campaign. |
| Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), a former talk-radio host who has called himself “Rush Limbaugh on decaf,” is keen to join the mix too. “My message is about how I think the wellspring of national renewal is what is happening in the states,” Pence said in an interview earlier this year. | Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), a former talk-radio host who has called himself “Rush Limbaugh on decaf,” is keen to join the mix too. “My message is about how I think the wellspring of national renewal is what is happening in the states,” Pence said in an interview earlier this year. |
| Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, a socially conservative iconoclast who tested Romney during the 2012 primary and won 11 primary contests, is also considering another bid. He said over the weekend that he is frustrated with the lack of attention he has received since his last campaign folded, but confident he could be a contender. | Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, a socially conservative iconoclast who tested Romney during the 2012 primary and won 11 primary contests, is also considering another bid. He said over the weekend that he is frustrated with the lack of attention he has received since his last campaign folded, but confident he could be a contender. |
| Frustrations about the drift of the GOP toward a watered-down platform on traditional values were rampant at this year summit. Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, whose political arm served as the main sponsor for the event, said at a news conference that the failure of Mitt Romney to win in 2012 demonstrates why social conservatives will be looking for a more authentic voice in 2016. | Frustrations about the drift of the GOP toward a watered-down platform on traditional values were rampant at this year summit. Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, whose political arm served as the main sponsor for the event, said at a news conference that the failure of Mitt Romney to win in 2012 demonstrates why social conservatives will be looking for a more authentic voice in 2016. |
| “He was not my first choice but once he was the nominee, I probably campaigned harder for him in 2012 than I did for George Bush’s reelection in 2004 — and that’s not to take anything away from George Bush,” he said. | “He was not my first choice but once he was the nominee, I probably campaigned harder for him in 2012 than I did for George Bush’s reelection in 2004 — and that’s not to take anything away from George Bush,” he said. |
| “I was convinced that he was pro-life, pro-family and pro-marriage. However, his record was something that followed him. Positions that he took earlier in his career — people were not convinced” he said. | “I was convinced that he was pro-life, pro-family and pro-marriage. However, his record was something that followed him. Positions that he took earlier in his career — people were not convinced” he said. |
| For 2016, those on the right are looking for someone who is unquestionably one of their own. Most politicians speaking at the Values Voter Summit played to that sentiment. “Not, ‘It’s the economy, stupid,’ rather, ‘It’s the culture, stupid,’ ” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said in his speech, the former a reference to the catchphrase once used by Democratic operative James Carville during the 1992 presidential campaign. | For 2016, those on the right are looking for someone who is unquestionably one of their own. Most politicians speaking at the Values Voter Summit played to that sentiment. “Not, ‘It’s the economy, stupid,’ rather, ‘It’s the culture, stupid,’ ” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said in his speech, the former a reference to the catchphrase once used by Democratic operative James Carville during the 1992 presidential campaign. |
| Bob Vander Plaats, the Iowa-based president of The Family Leader, said social conservatives want a candidate who has the “boldness to lead and courage to challenge both Democrats and Republicans.” Whoever it is, he said, the candidate has to be accepted by the grass-roots activists. | Bob Vander Plaats, the Iowa-based president of The Family Leader, said social conservatives want a candidate who has the “boldness to lead and courage to challenge both Democrats and Republicans.” Whoever it is, he said, the candidate has to be accepted by the grass-roots activists. |
| “There is no way that the Republicans can choose a candidate without the party base on board – just ask Presidents McCain and Romney how that went for them,” he said. “It’s not going to work to ask our base to hold their noses and go to work for someone again they don’t believe in.” | “There is no way that the Republicans can choose a candidate without the party base on board – just ask Presidents McCain and Romney how that went for them,” he said. “It’s not going to work to ask our base to hold their noses and go to work for someone again they don’t believe in.” |
| Republican pollster Frank Luntz thinks both parties make the mistake of “assuming that the social agenda is just about abortion or marriage.” | |
| “There is a values-oriented message that appeals way beyond traditional social conservatives,” he said. “For example, candidates that talk about the rights of parents to control what their children are taught in school may not be seen as a traditional social issue, but to a majority of voters and just about every Republican, it really matters. Similarly, the GOP primary candidates willing to talk about and even define right and wrong will do well in Republican primaries.” | |
| Not everyone is convinced that a candidate from Congress will make the best 2016 nominee. “The GOP leadership, people such as Boehner and McConnell, do not excite conservatives,” said Richard Viguerie, chairman of ConservativeHQ and for decades an organizer on the right. “We need to be looking outside of Congress, to the governors’ mansions, to combat a likely Washington insider candidate from the Democrats.” | Not everyone is convinced that a candidate from Congress will make the best 2016 nominee. “The GOP leadership, people such as Boehner and McConnell, do not excite conservatives,” said Richard Viguerie, chairman of ConservativeHQ and for decades an organizer on the right. “We need to be looking outside of Congress, to the governors’ mansions, to combat a likely Washington insider candidate from the Democrats.” |
| Some of the more moderate 2016 candidates are not on the radar of social conservatives. Jeb Bush was not asked to speak at this year’s Values Voter Summit, due to the unpopularity Bush has with some conservatives, in spite of his long record of social conservatism. | Some of the more moderate 2016 candidates are not on the radar of social conservatives. Jeb Bush was not asked to speak at this year’s Values Voter Summit, due to the unpopularity Bush has with some conservatives, in spite of his long record of social conservatism. |
| “Jeb is a very nice guy but he has a challenge among real conservatives for aggressively pushing for Common Core,”Perkins said. “That’s a huge problem.” | “Jeb is a very nice guy but he has a challenge among real conservatives for aggressively pushing for Common Core,”Perkins said. “That’s a huge problem.” |
| Meanwhile, Cruz has been a frequent visitor to New Hampshire and Iowa, both home to early contests in the 2016 race. But on Monday, the senator wrote on Facebook that “no decision has been made” yet regarding a 2016 run. | Meanwhile, Cruz has been a frequent visitor to New Hampshire and Iowa, both home to early contests in the 2016 race. But on Monday, the senator wrote on Facebook that “no decision has been made” yet regarding a 2016 run. |