Ted Cruz for President?

'National Review' says conservative senator is considering run in 2016
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted May 1, 2013 3:48 PM CDT
Ted Cruz for President?
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks at the CPAC convention in March.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The National Review got political pundits busy today with a story declaring that Tea Party darling Ted Cruz is seriously considering a run for president in 2016. “Ted won’t be opening an Iowa office anytime soon, but he’s listening,” says one person described as a longtime associate of the Republican Texas senator. “This is all in the early stages; nothing is official. It’s just building on its own.” The impetus behind the Cruz talk is that conservatives are afraid the party will nominate another moderate in a losing cause, says the article. They see Cruz in the mold of Barry Goldwater, someone on the right who would "rattle the Republican establishment."

Cruz himself responded to the chatter by dismissing the "wild speculation" on Facebook. But to truly gauge his prospects, keep an eye on the half-dozen or so "Texas Big Donors," writes David Frum at the Daily Beast. "Texas is home to the biggest lode of GOP donor money in the country," he notes. "If Cruz can successfully woo this money, he becomes a serious presidential candidate: not necessarily a winner in the general election (see Romney, Mitt), but at least somebody who can be nominated." See more reaction at The Week. (More Ted Cruz stories.)

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