Quorum Report Daily Buzz Quorum Report Daily Buzz Login into the Quorum Report Subscribe toQuorum Report
Quorum Report Daily Buzz

March 23, 2015      3:19 PM

HK: Though somewhat lackluster, Cruz announcement largely succeeds in tactical goals

Despite polling at under 5%, Cruz temporarily has center stage

Although it accomplished some of what was intended, Texas Senator Ted Cruz’ formal presidential campaign announcement today broke little new ground other than flush Senator Rand Paul into driving some competing coverage by pronouncing his campaign announcement would be April 7.

For the most part, the event at Liberty College seemed a tad underwhelming.  Cruz delivered a slightly more elaborate version of his standard stump speech to the weekly mandatory convocation of students at the Christian institution.  Repeal Obamacare, get rid of the IRS, institute a flat tax and ending government intrusion of private email and telephone conversations are all generally standard fare with predictable applause lines.

But while the speech was entirely predictable, Cruz drove the news cycle for the entire weekend and will no doubt be a lead in tonight’s news broadcasts.  More importantly to a Republican primary contender, he will drive Fox News and talk radio for days as a contrast to Jeb Bush and Scott Walker.

Besides a week of dominating the media, Cruz got the optics he sought… sort of. 

By Harvey Kronberg