Ted Cruz 2016 presidential campaign

File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg

Leading up to the 2016 presidential election cycle, commentators expressed their opinion that Cruz would run for President in 2016.{{Cite news|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|date=2014-09-13|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dont-underestimate-rand-paul-as-a-2016-presidential-contender/2013/09/15/1c2925c6-1e1c-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html|title=Rand Paul, 2016 Republican front-runner|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2016-02-17}}{{Cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=2013-09-25|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-first-2016-campaign-ad-almost-20-hours-long/69837/|title=Ted Cruz's First 2016 Campaign Ad Is Over 21 Hours Long|newspaper=The Atlantic Wire|access-date=2013-09-28|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012055512/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-first-2016-campaign-ad-almost-20-hours-long/69837/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|last=Metzler|first=Rebekah|date=2013-09-27|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/27/poll-ted-cruz-leads-2016-gop-field|title=Poll: Ted Cruz Leads 2016 GOP Field|newspaper=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=2013-09-28}} On March 14, 2013, he gave the keynote speech at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/2016-rubio-paul-et-al-court-cpac-crowd-88884.html|title=CPAC 2013: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul fight for the future of the GOP|author=Romano, Lois|publisher=Politico|date=March 14, 2013|access-date=March 14, 2013}} He tied for 7th place in the 2013 CPAC straw poll on March 16, winning 4% of the votes cast.{{cite news|title=Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll; Rubio close second|author=Montanaro, Domenico|url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/16/17341131-rand-paul-wins-cpac-straw-poll-rubio-close-second?lite|publisher=NBC News|date=March 16, 2013|access-date=July 21, 2013}} He performed even more strongly in the 2014 CPAC straw poll, coming in second with 11% behind Kentucky senator Rand Paul.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/cpac-2014-the-final-scorecard-104454.html|title=CPAC 2014: The final scorecard|work=POLITICO|access-date=October 12, 2014}} In the 2015 CPAC poll, he came in third with 11.5% behind Wisconsin governor Scott Walker and Paul.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/115619.html|title=Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll, with Scott Walker right behind|author=Ben Schreckinger|date=February 28, 2015|work=POLITICO}} In October 2013, Cruz won the Values Voter Summit Presidential straw poll with 42% of the vote, which was the highest percentage of any winning candidate in that poll's history.{{cite magazine|title=Ted Cruz Dominates Republican Straw Poll|author=Rayman, Noah|url=https://swampland.time.com/2013/10/13/ted-cruz-dominates-republican-straw-poll/|magazine=TIME|date=October 13, 2013|access-date=January 23, 2014}} A year later, he won the same poll again by a smaller margin of 25%, becoming the first person to ever win more than one VVS straw poll.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/219099-cruz-wins-value-voters-straw-poll/|title=Cruz clinches straw poll gold again|work=TheHill}} He came in first place in the two most recent Presidential straw polls conducted in 2014 with 30.33% of the vote at the Republican Leadership Conference{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins presidential straw poll at Republican Leadership Conference |author=Finnegan, Conor|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/31/cruz-convinced-gop-to-retake-congress-this-fall/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140601052607/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/31/cruz-convinced-gop-to-retake-congress-this-fall/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 1, 2014|publisher=CNN|date=May 31, 2014|access-date=July 1, 2014}} and 43% of the vote at the Republican Party of Texas state convention.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins Texas GOP's presidential straw poll, Rick Perry finishes distant fourth|author=Jeffers, Gromer|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/texas-gops-presidential-straw-poll-votes-being-tallied.html/|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|date=June 7, 2014|access-date=July 1, 2014|archive-date=April 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414082936/http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/texas-gops-presidential-straw-poll-votes-being-tallied.html/|url-status=dead}}

Cruz spoke at events in the summer of 2013 across Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, early primary states, leading to speculation that he was laying the groundwork for a run for President in 2016.{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/21/cruz-tries-to-sidestep-2016-question/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724021319/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/21/cruz-tries-to-sidestep-2016-question/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2013|title=Cruz tries to sidestep 2016 question|author=Ashley Killough|publisher=CNN|date=July 21, 2013|access-date=July 21, 2013}} On April 12, 2014, Cruz spoke at the Freedom Summit, an event organized by Americans for Prosperity and Citizens United.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are the big draws at the Freedom Summit|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/12/cruz-and-paul-greeted-by-cheers-at-tea-partys-2016-warm-up/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 16, 2014}} The event was attended by several potential presidential candidates.{{cite news|title=Freedom Summit draws GOP hopefuls to N.H.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/freedom-summit-draws-gop-hopefuls-to-nh/2014/04/12/8a5225f8-c262-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 16, 2014}} In his speech, Cruz mentioned that Latinos, young people and single mothers are the people most affected by the recession, and that the Republican Party should make outreach efforts to these constituents. He also said that the words "growth and opportunity" should be tattooed on the hands of every Republican politician.

Cruz, whose Canadian birth has prompted some to challenge his eligibility for presidential office under the natural-born-citizen clause,{{Cite news|title = Ted Cruz is not eligible to be president|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ted-cruz-is-not-eligible-to-be-president/2016/01/12/1484a7d0-b7af-11e5-99f3-184bc379b12d_story.html|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = 2016-01-12|access-date = 2016-01-13|issn = 0190-8286|language = en-US|first = Mary Brigid|last = McManamon}} formally applied to renounce his dual Canadian citizenship in the run-up to his campaign, and ceased being a citizen of Canada on May 14, 2014.{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=June 10, 2014|title=No, Canada: Sen. Ted Cruz has formally shed his dual citizenship|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/no-canada-sen-ted-cruz-has-formally-shed-his-dual-citizenship.html/|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|access-date=June 10, 2014|archive-date=September 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918102441/http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/no-canada-sen-ted-cruz-has-formally-shed-his-dual-citizenship.html/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/19/cruz-will-renounce-canadian-citizenship/?wprss=rss_homepage|title=Cruz Will Renounce Canadian Citizenship|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=August 19, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 20, 2013}}

File:Ted Cruz presidential campaign logo.png

The campaign logo consisted of a Flag of the United States spliced with the Torch of Liberty.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/11/28/ted-cruz-campaign-snapchat-filters-big-12-sec/76493422/|title=Ted Cruz's campaign logos are 'serious concern' for Big 12|website=USA TODAY|access-date=2016-03-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/graphic-designers-review-ted-cruzs-logo-2015-3|title=Graphic designers say Ted Cruz's logo looks like a burning flag|website=Business Insider|access-date=2016-03-11}} The design became one of the most recognized political brand logos during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/2016-campaign-logos-trump-goes-modern-n475776|title=2016 Campaign Logos: Trump Goes Modern|website=NBC News|access-date=2016-03-11}}{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/spot-hilarious-problem-ted-cruzs-185200227.html|title=Can You Spot the Hilarious Problem With Ted Cruz's New Logo?|website=Yahoo News|access-date=2016-03-11}} It has also been compared to the Church of Pentecost symbol.

File:HeidiTedCruzVers2Houston31MARCH2015 - Copy.jpg, March 2015]]

Cruz announced his campaign for the presidency on March 23, 2015, at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, during the student convocation.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/politics/ted-cruz-to-announce-on-monday-he-plans-to-run-for-president.html|title=Ted Cruz Hopes Early Campaign Entry Will Focus Voters' Attention|last=Martin|first=Nathan|author2=Maggie Haberman|date=March 22, 2015|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 24, 2015}}{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Announces Presidential Bid|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ted-cruz-announce-presidential-bid-monday-n328051|access-date=March 23, 2015|publisher=NBC News|date=March 23, 2015}} In his announcement speech, Cruz spoke of his plans for a constitutional government and said he would "stand for liberty".{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-ted-cruz-announces-presidential-bid-vows-to-stand-for-liberty/|title=Sen. Ted Cruz announces presidential bid, vows to 'stand for liberty'|date=March 23, 2015|publisher=Fox News}}{{cite news|title=Transcript: Ted Cruz's Speech at Liberty University|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/transcript-ted-cruzs-speech-at-liberty-university/2015/03/23/41c4011a-d168-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html|access-date=March 23, 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 23, 2015}} Cruz called on the audience to imagine a president repealing the Affordable Care Act and supporting Israel, economic growth, border security while allowing legal immigration, a flat tax and the abolition of the IRS.{{cite news|url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/all-the-things-ted-cruz-told-you-to-imagine-in-his-announcement-speech/|title=All the Things Ted Cruz Told You to 'Imagine' in His Announcement Speech|first=Evan|last=McCurry|publisher=Mediate|date=March 23, 2015}}

Liberty University students were required to attend the event, or else be fined, which the university's president Jerry Falwell Jr. confirmed adding, "No one is expected to agree with every speaker on every point."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/29581/jerry-falwell-jr-explains-why-liberty-university-students-had-attend-ted-cruzs-announcement-rally|title=Jerry Falwell Jr. Explains Why Liberty University Students Had to Attend Ted Cruz's Announcement Rally|date=March 23, 2015|first=Shane|last=Goldmacher|magazine=National Journal}} He became the first announced major Republican presidential candidate for the 2016 campaign.{{cite news |last=Schleifer |first=Theodore |date=March 21, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz to announce presidential bid Monday |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/us/article/Ted-Cruz-to-announce-presidential-bid-Monday-6150894.php?t=ec04aca79d29c86149 |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |location=Houston, Texas |access-date=March 22, 2015}}{{Cite news|last1=Corasaniti|first1=Nick|last2=Healy|first2=Patrick|date=2015-03-23|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/us/politics/ted-cruz-2016-presidential-race.html?_r=0|title=Ted Cruz Becomes First Major Candidate to Announce Presidential Bid for 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2015-03-23}} Cruz was believed to have initiated a long shot presidential bid, commentators referring to him as having no chance of winning the nomination, much less the general election, due to what was perceived as his lack of likability.{{cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/03/ted_cruz_announces_his_presidential_campaign_the_texas_senator_has_no_chance.html|title=Ted Cruz Imagines the White House|date=March 23, 2015|first=Jamelle|last=Bouie|work=Slate}}{{cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/lets-be-serious-about-ted-cruz-from-the-start-hes-too-extreme-and-too-disliked-to-win/|title=Let's Be Serious About Ted Cruz From The Start: He's Too Extreme And Too Disliked To Win|first=Harry|last=Enten|date=March 23, 2015|publisher=thirtyfiveeight.com}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-23/ted-cruz-really-thinks-he-can-win|title=Ted Cruz Really Thinks He Can Win|first=Jonathan|last=Bernestein|publisher=Bloomberg View|date=March 23, 2015}} Cruz, a freshman senator running for the presidency in his first term, faced comparisons to President Barack Obama who similarly ran for the presidency during his first term in the U.S. Senate.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/29/politics/ted-cruz-barack-obama-comparison/|title=Ted Cruz defends presidential credentials|date=March 29, 2015|first=Eric|last=Bradner|publisher=CNN}} Cruz dispelled similarities by calling the president a "backbencher" who did not take positions on "whole lot of issues of consequence" during his tenure in the senate, which he argued could not be applied to him, in effect spending the first few days of his presidential campaign trying to distance himself from the incumbent president.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/236732-cruz-obama-was-a-backbencher-in-senate/|title=Cruz: Obama was a 'backbencher' in Senate|first=Ben|last=Kamisar|newspaper=The Hill|date=March 24, 2015}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-on-similarities-to-sen.-obama-he-was-basically-a-backbencher-i-am-not/article/2562005|title=Ted Cruz on similarities to Sen. Obama: 'He was basically a backbencher,' I am not|first=Kelly|last=Cohen|date=March 25, 2015|magazine=Washington Examiner}}{{cite news|url=http://theweek.com/speedreads/546085/sen-ted-cruz-dismisses-obama-comparison-calls-backbencher-senate|title=Sen. Ted Cruz dismisses Obama comparison, calls him a 'backbencher' in the Senate|work=The Week|date=March 24, 2015}}

On April 1, Public Policy Polling showed Cruz in third place at 16%, behind potential candidates Jeb Bush and Scott Walker who were at 17% and 20%.

Cruz's name recognition significantly increased shortly after his campaign began, in April rising by 21 points to 82% from the 61% he had the previous month.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/237613-cruz-vaults-into-top-tier-of-gop-contenders-poll-finds/|title=Cruz vaults into GOP's top tier|newspaper=The Hill|first=Jonathan|last=Easley}} Cruz welcomed several candidates into the race following their individual announcements of their candidacy for the presidency, praising them as well.{{cite news|url=http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/04/13/marco-rubio-president-reaction-ted-cruz/|title=Cruz welcomes 'talented communicator' Rubio to 2016 race|date=April 13, 2015|publisher=OnPolitics|first=Catalina|last=Camia}} A Des Moines Register poll released in May showed Cruz in eighth place at 5% among caucus goers.{{cite news|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/05/30/iowa-poll-scott-walker-seven-point-lead/28230505/|title=Iowa Poll: Walker maintains popularity with 7-point lead|date=May 30, 2015|newspaper=Des Moines Register}}

Cruz significantly increased his appearances in Iowa from June 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/after-a-tepid-start-ted-cruz-plans-to-play-hard-in-iowa/2015/06/26/002af622-1854-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html|title=After a tepid start to presidential run, Ted Cruz plans to 'play hard' in Iowa|date=June 26, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Katie|last=Zezima}} On June 18, the day after the Charleston church shooting, Cruz gave a speech empathizing with the lost lives and led onlookers in a moment of silence. At the same time, former political director Craig Robinson expressed that while he thought of Cruz as "the perfect caucus candidate", he did not feel he was committing to Iowa.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/20/415827279/for-ted-cruz-the-hard-part-comes-next|title=For Ted Cruz, The Hard Part Comes Next|date=June 20, 2015|publisher=npr.org}}

On August 3, 2015, Cruz was featured in YouTube video frying bacon off the end of a semi-automatic rifle at the Central Iowa Impact Gun Range in Boone, Iowa.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/04/ted-cruz-sizzles-up-machine-gun-bacon.html|title=Ted Cruz sizzles up 'machine-gun bacon'|date=August 4, 2015|publisher=CNBC}} "There is nothing I enjoy more than on weekends cooking breakfast with the family," Cruz said in the video. "Of course in Texas we cook bacon a little differently than most folks."{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/tedcruz/article/Ted-Cruz-frying-bacon-off-the-end-of-a-machine-gun-6421618.php|title=Ted Cruz frying bacon off the end of a machine gun in Iowa may be the most Ted Cruz thing ever|date=August 3, 2015|work=Houston Chronicle|first=Craig|last=Hlavaty}} The month of August also saw the release of a campaign video where Cruz promised in his opposition to Planned Parenthood to prosecute the organization for "selling body parts". In the first few months of the campaign, Cruz held campaign rallies in Tulsa,{{cite news|url=http://www.krmg.com/news/news/local/gop-presidential-hopeful-sen-ted-cruz-plans-tulsa-/nnB9k/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150826031816/http://www.krmg.com/news/news/local/gop-presidential-hopeful-sen-ted-cruz-plans-tulsa-/nnB9k/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2015|date=August 3, 2015|publisher=krmg.com|title=GOP presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz plans Tulsa rally|first=Russell|last=Mills}} Columbus,{{cite news|url=http://wrbl.com/2015/07/20/sen-ted-cruz-coming-to-columbus/|title=Sen. Ted Cruz coming to Columbus|date=July 20, 2015|publisher=wrbl.com}} Hoover, Huntsville and Montgomery.{{cite news|url=http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/07/ted_cruz_tells_alabama_republi.html|title=Ted Cruz tells Alabama Republicans he's the only 'consistent conservative' in 2016|first=Howard|last=Koplowitz|date=July 21, 2015|publisher=al.com}}

Cruz successfully qualified for the first presidential debate of the election cycle, coming in 6th place in the overall list of the top 10 candidates.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-announces-candidate-line-up-for-prime-time-debate/|title=Fox News announces candidate line-up for prime-time debate|date=August 5, 2015|publisher=Fox News Channel}} Cruz's performance was mostly well-received, although debate coach and strategist Michael Sheehan found him annoying and strategist Rick Wilson wondered if the performance, despite showing "Cruz-like brilliance", helped him as much as people thought.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/republican-debate-2015-winners-losers-121139.html|title=The Debate's Biggest Winners–And Losers|work=Politico Magazine|date=August 7, 2015}} In an NBC News poll released on August 9, three days after the Ohio Republican presidential debate, Cruz came in 2nd place with 13% overall, more than doubling his prior support.{{cite news|url=http://politistick.com/breaking-ted-cruzs-support-more-than-doubles-following-gop-debate-surges-to-second-place-rinos-crash/|title=Ted Cruz's Support MORE THAN DOUBLES Following GOP Debate; Surges To Second Place; RINOs Crash|date=August 9, 2015|publisher=The PolitiStick|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811191207/http://politistick.com/breaking-ted-cruzs-support-more-than-doubles-following-gop-debate-surges-to-second-place-rinos-crash/|archive-date=August 11, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

Cruz journeyed to the southern states in the days following the debate, eight of which being slated to cast ballots on March 1 on a day monikered the "SEC Primary". He courted voters while going on bus tours, his rivals spending time campaigning in Iowa. "Like the SEC does two-a-days, we're doing two-a-days here right now," Cruz campaign manager Jeff Roe said. "Everybody comes in for a Fourth of July event—a big speech, or some sort of cattle call—but spending the time, doing these type of events? We don't see that from anybody else."{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/10/politics/ted-cruz-southern-trip-sec-primary-2016/|title=Ted Cruz's strategy heads south to win the 'SEC primary'|first=Theodore|last=Schleifer|publisher=CNN}} Cruz's public appearances throughout the southern states were well-publicized.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/2/gop-hopeful-ted-cruz-to-visit-tupelo-olive-branch-/|title=GOP hopeful Ted Cruz to visit Tupelo, Olive Branch Aug. 11|date=August 2, 2015|newspaper=Washington Times}}{{cite news|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/gop-hopeful-ted-cruz-plans-tulsa-stop-aug/article_d9b5dfe3-9436-503d-9faf-33d47eabba90.html|title=GOP hopeful Ted Cruz plans Tulsa stop Aug. 13|date=August 3, 2015|newspaper=Tulsa World}}

The second Republican presidential debate took place on September 16, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California. As with the first debate, Cruz did not participate in the "verbal combat" between the other candidates, only criticizing former Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush for their appointments of David Souter and John Roberts to the Supreme Court, arguing the pair could have appointed conservatives in their place that would have voted "differently on cases that enraged the conservative base."{{cite news|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2015/09/16/ted-cruz-debate/|title=Cruz Keeps Low Profile Again in Second Debate|date=September 16, 2015|work=The Texas Tribune|first=Abby|last=Livingston}} In hindsight, Cruz's undistinguished Fox News and CNN debate performances were viewed as being purposeful, as he "was biding his time."{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-1103-goldberg-cruz-rubio-political-metaphors-20151103-column.html|title=Just the ticket for the GOP: Cruz and Rubio|first=Jonah|last=Goldberg|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 3, 2015}} In a poll released on September 20, four days after the debate, Cruz came in sixth place, tied with Mike Huckabee.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/20/politics/carly-fiorina-donald-trump-republican-2016-poll/index.html|title=Fiorina rockets to No. 2 behind Trump in GOP field|date=September 20, 2015|first=Eric|last=Bradner}} Cruz visited Kentucky around this time, in support of the release of Kim Davis, but reportedly was blocked by an aide to Huckabee from appearing alongside her.{{cite news|url=http://theadvocate.com/news/13484137-123/post-debate-look-at-gov-bobby|title=Following second GOP presidential debate - Where does Bobby Jindal's campaign go from here?|publisher=The Advocate|date=September 19, 2015}}

Days after fellow presidential candidate Donald Trump did not correct a man who claimed President Obama was a Muslim, a move that generated controversy and negative reception by the White House, Democrats and Republicans, Cruz declined to answer whether he thought the president was a Christian, reasoning that Obama's faith "is between him and God" and opted to give his stance that the Obama administration had been antagonistic towards Christians.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-obama-christian_55fddc24e4b0fde8b0ce904c|title=Ted Cruz Declines To Say Whether He Thinks Obama Is A Christian|work=The Huffington Post|date=September 19, 2015|first=Sam|last=Levine}} Cruz debunked fellow presidential candidate Ben Carson's claim that a Muslim should not serve as president, saying, "The Constitution specifies there shall be no religious test for public office, and I'm a constitutionalist."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/21/ted-cruz-no-religious-test-for-presidency-under-the-constitution/|title=Ted Cruz: No religious test for presidency under the Constitution|first=Katie|last=Zezima|date=September 21, 2015}}

File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 7.jpg

Cruz was a participant in the CNBC Republican presidential debate on October 28. In his opening statement, he stressed his willingness to govern properly, and later in the debate charged the moderators with asking bait questions. Cruz's performance was well-received, as he had "effectively articulated" his strategy of being the second choice for voters, enough of which would give him "the broadest base of support left when the dust clears."{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/president-ted-cruz_563225bfe4b0631799111c1c|title=Ted Cruz Is Looking Surprisingly Good|date=October 29, 2015|work=The Huffington Post}} Cruz was also seen as having won the debate.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-won-republican-debate_5632529ee4b063179911600d|title=Face It: Ted Cruz Won The Republican Debate|work=The Huffington Post|first=Zach|last=Carter}} Cruz was the most discussed of all candidates on Facebook the night of the debate and came in second to Donald Trump on Twitter for the most-talked about.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/10/29/ted-cruz-wins-gop-debate-on-facebook/|title=Ted Cruz Wins GOP Debate on Facebook|date=October 29, 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|first=Natalie|last=Andrews}}

On October 31, Cruz was a speaker at a Growth and Opportunity Party event in Iowa. It was commented that Cruz received the biggest showing of the ten candidates present at the event.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/10/31/iowa-republican-growth-opportunity-party/74974710/|title=Ted Cruz gets biggest cheers at Iowa GOP festivities|first=Jennifer|last=Jacobs|work=USA Today|date=October 31, 2015}} In a poll released on November 2, Cruz came in second place for favorability among Iowans, only surpassed by Ben Carson.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/polls/258885-jindal-edges-ahead-of-bush-in-iowa-poll/|title=Jindal edges ahead of Bush in Iowa poll|first=Ben|last=Kamisar|newspaper=The Hill|date=November 2, 2015}} Two other polls released the same day showed Cruz in third place in Iowa at 15%, behind Donald Trump and Ben Carson.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/258867-cruz-moves-into-third-in-iowa-poll/|title=Cruz moves into third in Iowa polls|first=Jesse|last=Byrnes|newspaper=The Hill|date=November 2, 2015}} In a Quinnipiac University poll, noted by Fox News as having been taken after the CNBC debate, Cruz came in fourth place at 13%, behind the two aforementioned candidates and Marco Rubio.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/carson-other-gop-candidates-top-clinton-in-latest-national-poll/|title=Carson, other GOP candidates top Clinton in latest national poll|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=November 4, 2015}} Cruz stated shortly after the poll that the possibility of Rubio and himself being the last candidates remaining in the crowded field was a "plausible outcome."{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/05/politics/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-the-lead/|title=Ted Cruz calls a one-on-one with Marco Rubio a 'plausible outcome'|date=November 5, 2015|first=Theodore|last=Schleifer|publisher=CNN}}

As a result of many candidates feeling the CNBC debate was not balanced, some candidates signed a list of debate demands. Cruz refused to sign, stating in a Fox News interview that he wasn't "interested in signing letters."{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bush-cruz-wont-sign-list-of-campaign-debate-demands/|title=Bush, Cruz won't sign list of campaign debate demands|publisher=CBS News|first=Reena|last=Flores|date=November 4, 2015}} In November, The Courageous Conservatives PAC published a radio ad, stating, "Ted Cruz makes things happen. … After Sandy Hook, Ted Cruz stopped Obama's push for new gun-control laws." Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said at the time of the ad's release that it made him want to vomit and he was sure these feelings were shared by those who had also lived through Sandy Hook.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/chris-murphy-reacts-ted-cruz-super-pac-ad-sandy-hook-215612|title=Sen. Murphy: New Ted Cruz super PAC ad 'makes me want to throw up'|first=Eliza|last=Collins|publisher=Politico}}

On November 8, Cruz participated at the National Religious Liberties Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, alongside his father Rafael Cruz, Bobby Jindal and Mike Huckabee, and during a Q&A with the organizer of the event Kevin Swanson he said that "any president who doesn't begin everyday on his knees isn't fit to be commander-in-chief".{{cite news|title=Jindal, Huckabee, Cruz rally religious voters in Des Moines|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/11/06/jindal-huckabee-focus-religious-liberties-same-sex-marriage/75247280/|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|access-date=November 10, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Eggert|first1=Jessica|title=Republican Candidates Attend Rally Where Pastor Advocates "Death Penalty" for Gay People|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/republican-candidates-attend-rally-where-014821801.html|access-date=13 June 2017|work=Yahoo News|date=November 10, 2015}} In the conference, Kevin Swanson called for the execution of homosexuals. For which later, Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler called Swanson's statements "reprehensible" and given the comments "it was a mistake for Senator Cruz to appear at the event", stating that Cruz is against hatred or violence against homosexuals.{{cite news|last1=Jervis|first1=Rick|title=Ted Cruz uses faith freely on campaign trail|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/12/10/ted-cruz-religion-2016-evangelicals/76945128/|access-date=13 June 2017|work=USA Today|date=December 10, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Stewart|first1=Katherine|title=Ted Cruz and the Anti-Gay Pastor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/16/opinion/campaign-stops/ted-cruz-and-the-anti-gay-pastor.html|access-date=13 June 2017|work=The New York Times|date=November 16, 2015}} On November 24, a Quinnipiac University poll was released with Cruz in second place in Iowa at 23%, only surpassed by Donald Trump.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/24/politics/iowa-poll-donald-trump-ted-cruz-ben-carson-election-2016/|title=Iowa poll: Cruz, not Carson, now Trump's chief rival|date=November 24, 2015|publisher=CNN}} This was seen as evidence that Cruz was finally being able to garner the support of those who had supported candidates with no prior political experience such as frontrunners Trump and Carson, and establishing his credibility as a contender for the Republican Party's nomination.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/us/politics/ted-cruz-surges-in-iowa-powered-by-outsider-fervor.html|title=Ted Cruz Surges in Iowa, Powered by Outsider Fervor|work=The New York Times|date=November 30, 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/11/24/ted-cruz-could-actually-be-the-republican-nominee-for-president/|title=Ted Cruz could actually be the Republican nominee for president|date=November 24, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Paul|last=Waldman}} Additionally, it led some to believe that Cruz had made the right decision in avoiding conflicts with other candidates and focusing solely on his own substance.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/poll-ted-cruz-iowa-trump-216166|title=Cruz surges in Iowa|publisher=POLITICO|date=November 24, 2015|first=Katie|last=Glueck}}

The November 2015 Paris attacks significantly altered the Republican field, shifting the public focus to foreign policy and immigration.{{cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/paris-massacre-could-alter-the-2016-presidential-race-in-this-country/2015/11/14/0ae2f22c-8b04-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html|title=Paris massacre could alter the 2016 presidential race in this country|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 2, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-11-16/paris-terrorist-attacks-could-mark-a-turning-point-in-the-republican-primary|title=Paris Attacks Could Mark Turning Point in Republican Race|work=Bloomberg|access-date=December 2, 2015}} Though front-runner Trump—with a record of populist statements that were perceived both as hawkish and isolationist—was largely unaffected in his frontrunner status, second-place Ben Carson lost significant support in the immediate aftermath of the attack, as he was perceived as soft and inexperienced on foreign policy. Establishment favorite Jeb Bush also had his hopes of a late surge dimmed by his reputation as a moderate on immigration. In contrast, Rubio and Cruz, who had publicly taken hardline positions on both topics, saw their polls rise. By the end of November, poll averages showed Rubio in second place and Cruz in a close third place nationally.{{cite web|url= http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/poll-carson-collapses-rubio-surges-in-n.h./article/2576694|title=Poll: Carson collapses, Rubio surges in N.H.|work=Washington Examiner|access-date=December 2, 2015}}{{cite magazine|title=Cruz Surges in Iowa Poll After Paris Attacks|url=https://time.com/4125097/ted-cruz-iowa-polling-paris-attacks/|magazine=Time|access-date=December 2, 2015}}

In early December, a Monmouth University poll was released showing Cruz leading in Iowa at 24%. A CNN/ORC poll showed Cruz in second place to Trump among likely voters in the state's caucus with 20%.{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/a_tale_of_two_polls_in_iowa_cruz_leads_one_trump_t.html|title=Trump trails in new Iowa GOP poll but another has him leading. Here's why|date=December 8, 2015|first=Jonathan D.|last=Salant|work=The Star-Ledger}} A December 12, The Des Moines Register poll showed a 10-point lead for Cruz while a December 14 CNN poll showed a 1-point lead for Cruz.{{cite news|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/12/12/big-shakeup-iowa-poll-cruz-soars-lead/77199800/|title='Big shakeup' in Iowa Poll: Cruz soars to lead|first=Jennifer|last=Jacobs|newspaper=The Des Moines Register}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/12/politics/ted-cruz-donald-trump-iowa-poll/index.html|title=Cruz opens up 10-point lead on Trump in Iowa|date=December 12, 2015|first=Eugene|last=Scott|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/14/politics/donald-trump-ted-cruz-iowa-poll/index.html|title=Donald Trump, Ted Cruz share top spot in Iowa poll|date=December 14, 2015|first=Tom|last=LoBianco|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/12/14/poll-ted-cruz-catches-up-to-donald-trump-in-iowa-as-ben-carson-slips/|title=Poll: Ted Cruz and Donald Trump Running Neck and Neck in Iowa|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=December 14, 2015}}

On December 15, Cruz participated in the second CNN Republican debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, the fifth overall of the election cycle, his overall performance being seen as strong and some commentators dubbing him the winner of the event.{{cite news|url=http://theweek.com/articles/594285/who-save-america-from-ted-cruz|title=Who will save America from Ted Cruz?|first=Damon|last=Linker|date=December 16, 2015|work=The Week}}{{cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/who-won-cnn-republican-debate-donald-trump-ted-cruz-praised-clarity-composure-2227054|title=Who Won The CNN Republican Debate? Donald Trump, Ted Cruz Praised For Clarity, Composure|date=December 15, 2015|first=Jackie|last=Salo|work=International Business Times}} In the days following the debate, Cruz defended himself against claims by Rubio during the debate that he supported an immigration reform proposal two years prior in 2013 that would have included amnesty for undocumented immigrants,{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/politics/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-immigrant-fight/|title=Cruz, Rubio trade new shots over immigration|date=December 18, 2015|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-behind-ted-cruz-marco-rubio-immigration-fight/|title=What's behind the Ted Cruz-Marco Rubio immigration fight|date=December 18, 2015|first=Rebecca|last=Kaplan}} outright stating during a rally on December 17, "I oppose amnesty. I oppose citizenship. I oppose legalization for illegal aliens. I always have and I always will."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/19/us/politics/in-1999-memo-ted-cruz-took-milder-tone-on-immigration.html|title=In 1999 Memo, Ted Cruz Took Milder Tone on Immigration|date=December 18, 2015|first=Jonathan|last=Martin}}{{cite news|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/12/18/brief/|title=The Brief: Fight Over Cruz Poison Pill Amendment About Intent|date=December 18, 2015|first=John|last=Reynolds|work=The Texas Tribune}}{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/263648-in-vegas-cruz-says-immigration-moves-meant-to-call-dems-bluff/|title=In Vegas, Cruz says immigration moves meant to call Dems' bluff|date=December 17, 2015|first=Jonathan|last=Swan|newspaper=The Hill}} December 22, coincidentally Cruz's 45th birthday, saw the release of a Quinnipiac poll where Cruz came in second place to Trump nationally, behind him by just four percentage points at 24%.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/22/politics/trump-cruz-quinnipiac-poll/index.html|title=Donald Trump up 4% over Ted Cruz in Quinnipiac poll|date=December 22, 2015|first=Theodore|last=Schleifer|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/donald-trump-ted-cruz-republican-polls-217046|title=Poll: Cruz closing the gap with Trump|first=Nick|last=Gass|date=December 22, 2015|publisher=POLITICO}}{{cite news|url=http://theweek.com/speedreads/595710/ted-cruz-catches-donald-trump-latest-national-poll|title=Ted Cruz catches up to Donald Trump in latest national poll|date=December 22, 2015|publisher=theweek.com}}

File:Ted Cruz 2016 campaign logo.svg

By early January, Cruz continued to lead in Iowa, averaging 32%.{{cite news|url=http://heavy.com/news/2016/01/latest-gop-republican-polls-iowa-new-hampshire-trump-cruz-rubio-bush-christie/|title=GOP Polls for Jan. 7: State of the Race in Iowa & New Hampshire|first=Anthony|last=Bennett|publisher=Heavy.com}} However, a Quinnipiac University poll released on January 11 showed Cruz in second place to Trump at 29%, who had 31%.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/iowa-poll-shows-ted-cruz-donald-trump-tight/story?id=36217977|title=New Iowa Poll Shows Ted Cruz and Donald Trump in Tight Battle|first=Ryan|last=Struyk|date=January 11, 2016|publisher=ABC News}} A Bloomberg/Des Moines Register poll released on January 13 showed Cruz in first place with 25%.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/13/politics/iowa-poll-bloomberg-des-moines-register-donald-trump-ted-cruz/index.html|title=Iowa poll: Ted Cruz has slim lead over Donald Trump|first=David|last=Wright|date=January 13, 2016|publisher=CNN}} Cruz was a participant in the second Fox Business debate on January 14, defending himself against the accusations of possible issues resulting from his birth in Canada while also indicating that the controversy was generated by his opponents due to his rise in the polls in the last few months as well as his senate record.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/long-island/columnists/dan-janison/ted-cruz-and-donald-trump-clash-over-ny-eligibility-to-run-1.11327874|title=Ted Cruz, Donald Trump clash over NYC, eligibility to run|date=January 15, 2016|first=Dan|last=Johnson|newspaper=Newsday}}{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/who-won-the-first-ted-cruz-donald-trump-duel-217833|title=Who won the first Ted Cruz-Donald Trump duel?|first=Steven|last=Shepard|date=January 15, 2016|publisher=POLITICO}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/16/us/politics/who-won-the-republican-debate-cruz-and-trump-impress-the-critics.html?_r=0|title=Who Won the Republican Debate? Ted Cruz and Donald Trump Impress Critics|first=Alan|last=Rappeport|date=January 16, 2016|newspaper=New York Times}}

During the second Fox Business debate, Cruz was questioned on his meaning when he stated beforehand that Trump embodied New York values.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/13/politics/ted-cruz-donald-trump-new-york-values/|title=Ted Cruz: Donald Trump 'embodies New York values'|first=David|last=Wright|date=January 13, 2016|publisher=CNN}} He was also criticized for the statement by New York Republicans and Democrats.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/15/politics/bill-de-blasio-donald-trump-hillary-clinton/|title=De Blasio demands Cruz apologize to New Yorkers|date=January 15, 2016|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|url=http://qz.com/595851/hillary-clinton-on-newyorkvalues-just-this-once-trumps-right/|title=Hillary Clinton on #NewYorkValues: "Just this once, Trump's right."|date=January 15, 2016|work=Quartz}} The January 15 issue of Daily News, released the day after the debate, had a front page reading, "Drop dead, Ted." The cover also called on him to return to Canada.{{cite news|url= http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/15/politics/new-york-daily-news-cruz-cover/|title=New York Daily News to Cruz: 'Drop Dead, Ted'|date=January 15, 2016|publisher=CNN}} Cruz acknowledged the criticism and apologized to New Yorkers "who have been let down by the liberal politicians in that state." He also apologized on behalf of Bill de Blasio for what he called his standing with "looters and the criminals" instead of law enforcement.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/15/politics/ted-cruz-new-yorkers-apology/|title=Cruz offers 'apology' to New Yorkers|date=January 15, 2016|publisher=CNN}}

Cruz's opposition to ethanol led Iowa's governor, Terry Branstad to publicly express disapproval of him on January 19, arguing that his win would be at the expense of jobs for Iowans and reduce income for farms. Branstad's comments were a far cry from the behavior of previous governors of the state during the Iowa caucus, who typically remained neutral.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/19/politics/terry-branstad-ted-cruz-defeat/|title=Iowa governor wants Ted Cruz defeated|date=January 19, 2016|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/iowa-gov-ted-cruz-win-would-be-damaging-n499696|title=Iowa Gov.: A Ted Cruz Win Would Be 'Damaging'|date=January 19, 2016|publisher=NBC News}} Hours after the governor's comments, Sarah Palin, who had been a supporter of Cruz during his run for the U.S. Senate four years prior, endorsed Trump.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/us/politics/donald-trump-sarah-palin.html?_r=0|title=Sarah Palin Endorses Donald Trump, Which Could Bolster Him in Iowa|date=January 19, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times}} These events propelled Theodore Schleifer of CNN to conclude that Cruz "has had better days."{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/19/politics/ted-cruz-iowa-terry-branstad/|title=Ted Cruz's no-good, very bad day|date=January 19, 2016|publisher=CNN}}

By late January, Trump had re-claimed the polling lead in Iowa, garnering 33% to Cruz's 27% in the polling averages just 6 days before the caucus.{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/ia/iowa_republican_presidential_caucus-3194.html|title=Iowa Republican Presidential Caucus|website=Real Clear Politics|publisher=RealClearPolitics.com|access-date=2016-02-17}} Cruz was a participant in the second Fox News debate. He was seen by some pundits as losing due to his defensive positions on his prior positions on immigration as well as subsidies for ethanol and falling flat on his attempts at humor.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/gop-insiders-it-was-a-rough-night-for-ted-cruz-218395|title=GOP insiders: It was a rough night for Ted Cruz|first=Steven|last=Shepard|date=January 29, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/01/ted_cruz_lost_the_fox_debate_to_donald_trump.html|title=Ted Cruz lost the Fox debate to Donald Trump|date=January 28, 2016|publisher=Slate.com}}

On February 1, 2016, Cruz won the first Republican nomination contest, the Iowa Republican caucus. Cruz received 28% of caucus votes, with Donald Trump and Marco Rubio in second and third place at 24% and 23%, respectively.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/politics/iowa-caucuses-2016-highlights/|title=Iowa caucus results: Ted Cruz wins; Clinton, Sanders tied|date=February 2, 2016|publisher=CNN}} The clear victory was a surprise to many; analysts attributed the performance to Cruz's extensive grassroots organization in Iowa, having borrowed from Barack Obama's campaign in the 2008 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses, where Obama had similarly outperformed two rivals in a statistically tied race. Cruz became the first Hispanic person to win the Iowa caucus in either party.{{cite web|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/02/01/iowans-to-choose-trump-aggressiveness-cruz-conservatism-or-rubio-moderation/|title=Ted Cruz makes history, becomes first Hispanic to win Iowa caucus|work=Fox News Latino}} However, not all subsequent press for Cruz was positive; Cruz's campaign received significant criticism after it was revealed that it was responsible for a voicemail with the false claim that Carson had quit the race, presumably an attempt to rally Carson's evangelical supporters towards Cruz's side.{{cite web|url=http://www.radioiowa.com/2016/02/04/branstad-says-cruz-employed-unethical-and-unfair-tactics-monday-night/|title=Branstad says Cruz employed 'unethical and unfair' tactics Monday night (AUDIO)|website=Radio Iowa|access-date=2016-03-04}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/carson-slams-cruz-over-iowa-voicemail-spreading-false-drop-out-rumor|title=Carson slams Cruz over Iowa voicemail spreading 'false' drop-out rumor {{!}} Fox News|date=2016-02-05|website=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-04}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/ted-cruz-and-the-art-of-the-dirty-trick|title=Ted Cruz and the Art of the Dirty Trick|last=Davidson|first=Amy|date=2016-02-04|newspaper=The New Yorker|issn=0028-792X|access-date=2016-03-04}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/22/cruz-i-m-not-shady-my-staff-kinda-is.html|title=Ted Cruz: I'm Not Shady, but the People I Hire Are|last=Resnick|first=Tim Mak{{!}}Gideon|date=2016-02-22|website=The Daily Beast|access-date=2016-03-05}}

February 9's New Hampshire primary, barely a week later, did not provide shocks; Cruz finished with 12% of the vote, behind Trump and Kasich, and ahead of Bush and Rubio. As Kasich and Bush had invested significantly in the New Hampshire race—hoping to win it and consolidate the moderate "lane"—the underwhelming results did not provide a boost to their campaigns.

Ahead of the February 20 South Carolina primary, Cruz and Rubio became entangled in a heated exchange in a CBS-hosted debate. Cruz referred to an interview of Rubio on Univision and alleged that Rubio had stated a different position on immigration from his public stance, in effect accusing him of pandering to the Hispanic audience. Rubio then responded with the accusation that Cruz could not speak Spanish and hence could not have understood his remarks. Cruz, agitated, asked in spoken Spanish for Rubio to continue his own statement in Spanish. Rubio brushed off the exchange and accused Cruz of frequent dishonesty, pointing to the controversy over the Iowa caucus in particular. The exchange became highly discussed in social media and was notable as the first instance of Spanish being spoken in an American major party presidential debate; Beto O'Rourke later did the same in a 2019 Democratic debate.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/14/politics/marco-rubio-ted-cruz-lies/|title=Marco Rubio accuses Ted Cruz of lying|date=February 14, 2016|publisher=CNN|first=Eric|last=Bradner}}

In the subsequent South Carolina Republican primary, Cruz narrowly finished 3rd behind Rubio by a tiny margin of 0.15%.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-wins-south-carolina-bush-drops-out-of-gop-race/2016/02/20/16f80c9a-d655-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html|title=Trump wins South Carolina; Bush drops out of GOP race|date=February 21, 2016|newspaper=Washington Post}} The following day, Bush dropped out of the presidential race, while Cruz declared that he and Rubio had "effectively tied" for 2nd behind Trump, with the implication that both were vying for the status as the mainstream conservative challenger to Trump.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-effectively-tied-marco-rubio-south-carolinas/story?id=37092860|title=Ted Cruz Says He 'Effectively Tied' Marco Rubio in South Carolina's Republican Primary|date=February 20, 2016|publisher=ABC News}}

In Nevada, Cruz and Rubio were part of another tight battle for second, with Rubio claiming 24% of the vote and Cruz 21%.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/23/politics/nevada-republican-caucus-results/|title= Trump scores big win in Nevada|date=February 24, 2016|publisher=CNN|last=Reston|first=Maeve}}

Prior to the evening of the Iowa Caucus, the Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz campaigns used the published state voter roster entries to send targeted mailing to past Iowa voters. The mailing envelopes were designed to appear to originate from an election authority, with large wording announcing "VOTER VIOLATION" on the exterior in a bold red box.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/ted-cruzs-iowa-mailers-are-more-fraudulent-than-everyone-thinks|title=Ted Cruz's Iowa Mailers Are More Fraudulent Than Everyone Thinks|author=Lizza, Ryan |date=January 31, 2016|magazine=The New Yorker}} Some recipients stated they were intimidated by the content, which revealed their past voter participation and their adjacent neighbors' participation.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-facing-controversy-iowa-voter-violation-mailers/story?id=36631257|title=Ted Cruz Facing Controversy Iowa 'Voter Violation' Mailers|access-date=February 11, 2016|publisher=ABC News|date=February 3, 2016}}

During caucus evening in Iowa, news reports from CNN reporters indicated correctly that Carson's itinerary was to go home to Florida before the night's caucus results and then to Washington, DC prayer breakfast, not New Hampshire or South Carolina; the Cruz campaign began to reference these reports in news interviews and Twitter posts, misrepresenting them as reporting indicating that Carson was planning to withdraw from the campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/cnn-cruz-heres-why/|title=CNN, Cruz & Carson Campaigns All Deserve Blame for Iowa Misinformation Missteps; Here's Why|access-date=February 11, 2016|publisher=Mediaite|date=February 4, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/02/07/fact-checking-the-eighth-gop-debate/|title=Fact Checking the Eighth GOP Debate|access-date=February 11, 2016|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 7, 2016}}{{clarify|date=March 2016}} Cruz apologized via a direct phone call to Dr. Ben Carson later and repeated the apology in a CNN interview.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ted-cruz-apologizes-to-ben-carson-for-spreading-rumor-he-was-dropping-out/ |title=Ted Cruz Apologizes to Ben Carson For Spreading Rumor He Was Dropping Out |publisher=Mediaite |date=2016-02-02 |access-date=2016-04-22}} Campaign surrogate Peter King defended his part in the events, and Cruz said that he would not punish any of his staff for spreading rumors of Carson's exit from the campaign.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/268051-steve-king-i-had-obligation-to-tell-iowa-voters-about/ |title=Rep. Steve King: I had 'obligation' to tell Iowa voters about Carson |publisher=TheHill |date=2016-02-03 |access-date=2016-04-22}}

At the New Hampshire ABC debate Donald Trump accused the Cruz campaign of "dirty tricks" for targeting Dr. Ben Carson during the caucusing in Iowa. Afterwards, Cruz's communications director, Rick Tyler, publicized a video with inaccurate subtitle captions portraying Marco Rubio criticizing the Bible. The next day, February 22, Tyler apologized to Rubio on his Facebook page for publishing the video. Shortly after that, Cruz requested Tyler's resignation.{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Fires Communications Director Rick Tyler Over Falsified Rubio Video|url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/02/22/ted-cruz-fires-communications-director-rick-tyler-over-falsified-rubio-video|access-date=February 22, 2016|publisher=Fox News|date=February 22, 2016}}

After Tyler's resignation, Marco Rubio called Cruz "a liar" during the Houston CNN/Telemundo debate held February 25; Donald Trump repeated the "a liar" phrase targeting Cruz in that CNN debate and the two campaigns attributed the threads of alleged past deceit in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Super Tuesday directly to Cruz, downplaying the Tyler resignation.{{cite news|title=How Marco Rubio Blunted Ted Cruz and Boosted Donald Trump|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-02-24/how-marco-rubio-blunted-ted-cruz-and-boosted-donald-trump|access-date=February 24, 2016|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=February 24, 2016}}

Analyzing the internal exit polling of the primary results, the impact of these accusations affected the evangelical Christian voters in the South Carolina candidate selection. Self-identified evangelicals did not agree with the candidate values of Donald Trump closely matching their values, but selected Donald Trump in a higher percentage than Cruz, the likely favored candidate among this group.{{cite news|title=South Carolina Exit Polls|url= http://www.cnn.com/election/primaries/polls/sc/Rep|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=March 1, 2016}}

By the time of the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, on March 1, the exit polling results of evangelical Christian voters were at the anticipated levels, selecting Cruz over Donald Trump, with the exception of Virginia.{{cite news|title=Texas Exit Polls|url= http://www.cnn.com/election/primaries/polls/tx/Rep|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=March 1, 2016}} In Virginia, the selection was Rubio over Trump and Cruz, with Trump the declared winner.{{cite news|title=Virginia Exit Polls|url= http://www.cnn.com/election/primaries/polls/va/Rep|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=March 1, 2016}}

Cruz's campaign had positioned itself to rely heavily on his home state of Texas. Cruz also focused on Alaska, having never visited the state though believing his grassroots movement would suffice.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/28/politics/ted-cruz-super-tuesday-delegates/|title=Ted Cruz, worried about Super Tuesday, goes hunting for delegates|date=February 28, 2016|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-donald-trump-leads-virginia-georgia-ted-cruz-hanging-on-texas-super-tuesday/|title=Poll: Donald Trump leads in Virginia, Georgia; Ted Cruz hanging on in Texas|date=February 28, 2016|publisher=CBS News}} In a poll released on February 28, Cruz maintained a lead in Texas by eleven points at 42%. Tom LoBianco of CNN said that a Cruz victory in Texas could slow Trump's momentum.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/28/politics/clinton-trump-cruz-super-tuesday-polls/|title=Polls: Clinton dominates South; Trump, Cruz scrap for Super Tuesday edge|date=February 28, 2016|publisher=CNN|first=Tom|last=LoBianco}} Christopher Hooks of The Los Angeles Times stated that Cruz's campaign could be over with an underperformance in Texas, while viewing a large victory as allowing him to remain in the race "with renewed vigor."{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0228-hooks-texas-primary-20160228-story.html|date=February 28, 2016|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|title=Why Texas matters politically more than ever}} Cruz went to Texas the day prior to the primary to secure votes.{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/national-politics/20160228-cruz-counting-on-texas-for-a-burst-of-optimism-on-super-tuesday.ece|title=Ted Cruz's Southern strategy is no longer the sure bet he hoped for|publisher=dallasnews.com|date=February 28, 2016|first=Todd J.|last=Gillman}} On primary day, March 1, 2016, Cruz won Texas by 17% (beating the expectations of final polling numbers) along with Alaska and Oklahoma, providing him with four state primary victories total.{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/clinton-sanders-trump-score-early-wins-super-tuesday-n529496|title=Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton Score Big Super Tuesday Primary Wins|first=Andrew|last=Rafferty|date=March 2, 2016|publisher=NBC News}}

On March 5, 2016, Cruz won the Kansas and Maine caucuses, giving him six statewide wins.[http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article64216282.html Cruz Easily Wins Kansas Republican Caucuses], Kansas City Star, March 5, 2016.{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=March 5, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz Wins Kansas Caucuses as 5 States Vote on 'Super Saturday' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/us/politics/primary-elections.html?_r=0 |newspaper=New York Times |location=New York |access-date=March 5, 2016|quote=Senator Ted Cruz scored a hard-fought and decisive win in the Kansas caucuses on Saturday, demonstrating his enduring appeal among conservatives as he tries to reel in Donald J. Trump's significant lead in the Republican presidential race.}}{{cite news |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=March 5, 2016 |title=Cruz Goes Two for Four, Wins Kansas, Maine |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2016/03/05/cruz-wins-kansas-caucuses-other-states-pending/ |newspaper=Texas Tribune |location=Austin, Texas |access-date=March 6, 2016}} Cruz won his widest margin in Kansas, where he beat Trump by 25 points. Cruz also tied Trump in Louisiana for the largest number of delegates earned from the Louisiana primary, with 18 delegates each.{{cn|date=August 2022}} With his victories over Trump in Kansas and Maine, Cruz established himself as the candidate with the best opportunity to defeat Trump, the leading contender for the nomination.Easley, Jonathan. [https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/271951-cruz-on-trumps-heels-after-super-saturday-victories/ Cruz on Trump's heels after victories on Super Saturday], The Hill, March 6, 2016. On March 6, 2016, in the Puerto Rico primaries, Cruz received 9% of the vote, placing him third behind Rubio and Trump.{{cite news |date=March 7, 2016 |title=Rubio claims easy victory in Puerto Rico |url=http://www.mohavedailynews.com/news/rubio-claims-easy-victory-in-puerto-rico/article_67370e72-e438-11e5-accc-83855d03eaee.html |newspaper= Mohave Valley Daily News |location=Bullhead City, Arizona |access-date=March 7, 2016}} On March 8, 2016, Cruz won the Idaho primary with 45% of vote—defeating Trump by 17% and earning his seventh statewide victory.{{cite news |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=March 8, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz Wins Idaho, Places Second in Three Other States |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2016/03/08/cruz-fights-2nd-mich-set-runner-miss/ |newspaper=Texas Tribune |location=Austin, Texas |access-date=March 9, 2016|quote=U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Tuesday night won the Idaho GOP presidential primary while placing second in three other states, continuing to demonstrate viability against frontrunner Donald Trump.}} He placed second in Michigan, Mississippi, and Hawaii. The victory in Idaho solidified his claim as the best alternative to Donald Trump. On March 12, 2016, Cruz won the Wyoming county conventions with 67% of the vote, giving him his eighth statewide win.{{cite news |date=2016-03-13 |title=Cruz crushes Trump in Wyoming Republican caucus |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/773219/cruz-crushes-trump-in-wyoming-republican-caucus |access-date=2016-03-13|quote=With all votes counted, Texas Senator Cruz won 66.3 percent of the ballots in the western state, far ahead of his nearest rival, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who earned 19.5 percent of the vote.}} He took fourth at the District of Columbia convention.

Following Rubio's loss in Florida and suspension of his campaign on March 15, commentators noted that Cruz was becoming the surrogate for most of his supporters, including voters and other office holders.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/23/ted-cruz-is-the-republican-establishment-candidate-thats-absolutely-insane/|title=Ted Cruz is the Republican establishment candidate. That's absolutely insane.|date=March 23, 2016|newspaper=Washington Post}} On March 17, Lindsey Graham, who previously indicated his dislike for Cruz on several occasions, said that he would both support and fundraise for him due to his belief that Cruz was capable of besting Trump in the primary.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/17/politics/lindsey-graham-ted-cruz-endorsement/|title=Watch Lindsey Graham go from hating to stumping for Ted Cruz|date=March 18, 2016|publisher=CNN|first=Chris|last=Moody}} Shortly afterward, former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney expressed his support for Cruz over what he called "Trumpism".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35845233|title=Mitt Romney: Vote for Ted Cruz over 'Trumpism'|date=March 18, 2016|publisher=bbc.com}} Jeb Bush endorsed Cruz on March 23, the anniversary of the campaign's announcement, calling Cruz a "principled conservative" and urging voters to reject Trump as a potential nominee.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/23/politics/jeb-bush-ted-cruz-endorsement/index.html|title=Jeb Bush backs Ted Cruz for president|date=March 23, 2016|publisher=CNN}}

On March 25, Cruz responded to a National Enquirer allegation that "political operatives" are investigating whether Cruz had been involved in extramarital affairs.Hopper, Jessica. [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-blames-sleazy-donald-national-enquirer-report/story?id=37932391 "Cruz Blames 'Sleazy Donald' for National Enquirer Report"], ABC News (March 25, 2016). In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Cruz denied the allegations as "complete and utter lies" and called the article "garbage" and placed the blame for the falsehood on Donald Trump and his allies.{{cite news|last1=Weigel|first1=David|title=Cruz: National Enquirer story is 'garbage' from 'Donald Trump and his henchmen'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/25/cruz-national-enquirer-story-is-garbage-from-donald-trump-and-his-henchmen/|access-date=25 March 2016|newspaper=Washington Post|date=25 March 2016}} On April 3, 2016, Cruz was interviewed by Megyn Kelly, and said that he had always been faithful to his wife.

{{cite news

| url = http://www.chron.com/news/politics/tedcruz/article/Cruz-doubles-down-blaming-Trump-for-sex-scandal-7228797.php

| title = Cruz doubles down blaming Trump 'henchmen' for sex scandal rumors

| newspaper = Houston Chronicle

| author = Dylan Baddour

| date = 2016-04-05

| access-date = 2016-04-06

| quote = In a Fox News interview with Megyn Kelly, aired late Monday, Cruz offered his most direct refutation yet of unsupported allegations that he's courted a handful of mistresses in recent years.

}}

{{cite news

| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/05/ted-cruzs-phone-number-appeared-in-madams-phone-list-magazine-cl/

| title = Ted Cruz's phone number 'appeared in madam's phone list', magazine claims

| newspaper = The Daily Telegraph

| author = Robert Tait

| date = 2016-04-05

| access-date = 2016-04-06

| quote = Mr Sibley told the National Enquirer that "time is of the essence" in publishing because it has phone numbers containing information "relevant to voters before they cast their ballot".

}}

On April 3, 2016, North Dakota elected a slate of delegates that was dominated by pro-Cruz delegates. Cruz received the support of the majority of the delegates.{{cite web|url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/ND-R|title=North Dakota Republican Delegation 2016}} Two days later, Cruz won a victory in the Wisconsin primary with 48% of the vote and 36 of the 42 delegates. On April 8, Cruz received 21 of Colorado's 37 delegates,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/09/us/politics/ted-cruz-wins-majority-of-delegates-in-colorado.html?_r=0|title=ed Cruz Wins Majority of Delegates in Colorado|work=The New York Times|date=April 8, 2016}} garnering the support of the remaining delegates the next day, April 9, during the state's Republican Convention.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-cruz-gains-21-delegates-with-colorado-sweep/|date=April 9, 2016|title=Ted Cruz gains 34 delegates with Colorado sweep|publisher=CBS News}}

Also in April, amid polling showing that Trump had a massive lead in New York, Cruz began redirecting his focus to California, Republican voters there due to cast votes on June 7.{{cite news|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/11/ted-cruz-rally-san-diego/|title=Ted Cruz sweeps through Southern California|date=April 11, 2016|newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune}} Midway through April, Cruz traveled to Wyoming seeking to gather the 14 delegates for his campaign, though this plan conflicted with a group of the state's Republicans who hoped to send the delegates to the national convention in three months.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/16/politics/wyoming-republican-convention-election-results/|title=Ted Cruz looks for Wyoming sweep|date=April 16, 2016|publisher=CNN}} On April 16, Cruz secured all of Wyoming's delegates at the state convention, prompting Trump to call the process "rigged" at a rally that day in Syracuse, New York.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-idUSKCN0XD0Y4|title=Ted Cruz wins Wyoming Republican presidential nominating contest|date=April 16, 2016}}

On April 19, Trump won the New York primary, receiving the state's delegates and enlarging the gap between him and Cruz by over 300. The following day, April 20, Cruz said that no one would get the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination and foresaw a contested convention.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-cruz-nobody-is-getting-1237-delegates/|title=Ted Cruz: "Nobody is getting 1,237" delegates|date=April 20, 2016|publisher=CBS News}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/20/politics/ted-cruz-momentum-new-york-donald-trump/|title=Cruz: 'Nobody is getting 1,237'|date=April 20, 2016|publisher=CNN}} On April 22, the Cruz campaign was accused by Governor of Maine Paul LePage, who is a Trump supporter, of reversing its position after promising to back a "unity slate that would honor the wishes of the thousands of Mainers who voted at caucus." He furthered that Cruz campaign affiliate David Sawyer "stabbed us in the back, reneged on the unity slate, and betrayed the people of Maine." Cruz subsequently obtained 19 of 20 delegate slots for Maine.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/23/politics/maine-republican-delegates-unity-ticket-gop-governor/|title=Maine governor, a Trump supporter, accuses Cruz campaign of lying over unity ticket|date=April 22, 2016|publisher=CNN}}

[[File:Ted Cruz 2016.svg|thumb|340px|Percentage of vote received by Cruz by state or territory.

{{legend|#FFFF83|0.0–9.9%|border=0}}

{{legend|#FFF350|10.0–19.9%|border=0}}

{{legend|#FFD853|20.0–29.9%|border=0}}

{{legend|#FDBE00|30.0–39.9%|border=0}}

{{legend|#E4A300|40.0–49.9%|border=0}}

{{legend|#be7d00|50.0%+|border=0}}

]]

On April 27, 2016, in a move unusual for a candidate in a contested primary,{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/27/politics/ted-cruz-carly-fiorina-vice-president/index.html|title=Ted Cruz to name Carly Fiorina as VP|author=Tal Kopan, John Berman and Sunlen Serfaty|website=CNN|access-date=2016-04-27}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/28/us/politics/ted-cruz-carly-fiorina.html|title=Ted Cruz to Name Carly Fiorina as His Running Mate|last1=Flegenheimer|first1=Jonathan Martin, Matt|date=2016-04-27|last2=Burns|first2=Alexander|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-04-27}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cruz-says-he-will-make-a-major-announcement-at-afternoon-rally/2016/04/27/397bc1f0-0c18-11e6-8ab8-9ad050f76d7d_story.html|title=Cruz expected to announce Carly Fiorina as his running mate|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2016-04-27}} Cruz announced that Carly Fiorina would be joining his campaign as his vice presidential running mate. This was one day after he lost a series of primaries in the northeast and later dropped out of the race. The Cruz campaign would later attribute their loss to not having selected Rubio as running mate, as hypothetical polling showed Cruz defeating Trump by a large margin with Rubio as the vice presidential candidate. However, Rubio denounced any interest at the time, which convinced the campaign to not approach him.{{cite news|url= http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/08/politics/republican-officials-donald-trump-marco-rubio-ted-cruz/index.html|title=Cruz campaign: We could have stopped Trump if Rubio became running mate|date=May 8, 2016|publisher=CNN}} On April 30, Former Governor of California Pete Wilson endorsed Cruz during a joint appearance at the state Republican Party's convention.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/04/30/pete-wilson-of-california-backs-ted-cruz-and-warns-of-donald-trump/|title=Pete Wilson of California Backs Ted Cruz and Warns of Donald Trump|date=April 30, 2016|newspaper=New York Times}} The same day, it was reported that 10 of the 13 Virginia delegates at that state's Republican convention were loyal to Cruz.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/cruz-wins-the-most-delegates-at-virginia-gop-convention/2016/04/30/f6b9ea9a-0efb-11e6-8ab8-9ad050f76d7d_story.html|title=Ted Cruz wins the most delegates at Virginia GOP convention|date=April 30, 2016|newspaper=Washington Post}}

The May 3 Indiana primary was widely seen as make or break for the Cruz campaign by commentators and pundits who speculated a loss for Cruz would mean a nomination for Trump. In a fundraising email, Cruz admitted that the state was pivotal to stopping Trump.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ted-cruz-makes-his-last-stand-in-indiana-1461971615|title=Ted Cruz Makes His Last Stand in Indiana|date=April 30, 2016|newspaper=Wall Street Journal}} On April 29, Governor of Indiana Mike Pence (candidate Trump's eventual running mate) said he would be voting for Cruz in the state primary, effectively endorsing him.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/29/ted-cruz-praises-indiana-gov-mike-pence/?page=all|title=Indiana Gov. Mike Pence: 'I will be voting for Ted Cruz'|date=April 29, 2016|newspaper=Washington Times}} On May 1, a poll was released showing Cruz with 34% support of Republican voters in Indiana, 15 points behind Trump.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/poll-donald-trump-leads-ted-cruz-by-double-digits-in-indiana/|title=Poll: Donald Trump leads Ted Cruz by double digits in Indiana|first=Reena|last=Flores|date=May 1, 2016|publisher=CBS News}} The same day, Cruz swore the campaign would continue regardless of the outcome of the primary.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cruz-vows-distance-ahead-crucial-indiana-primary/story?id=38785106|title=Cruz Vows to 'Go the Distance' Ahead of Crucial Indiana Primary|date=May 1, 2016|first=Jessica|last=Hopper|publisher=ABC News}} Following the Indiana primary on May 3, Cruz announced he was suspending his campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/ted-cruz-drops-out-of-presidential-race-222763|title=Ted Cruz drops out of presidential race|website=Politico}}

{{Further|Natural-born-citizen clause (United States)#Ted Cruz}}

Questions have been raised as to whether Cruz meets the constitutional qualification that the President must be a natural born citizen as Cruz was born in Canada.{{cite news|title=Texplainer: Could Canadian-Born Ted Cruz Be President?|first=John Wayne|last=Ferguson|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2012/08/13/texplainer-could-canadian-born-ted-cruz-be-preside/|newspaper=Texas Tribune|date=August 13, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Could there be a President Ted Cruz?|first=Ken|last=Herman|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/could-there-be-a-president-ted-cruz-1/nRNLB/|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=August 7, 2012|access-date=August 20, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927205336/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/could-there-be-a-president-ted-cruz-1/nRNLB/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Questions about the qualifications of Ted Cruz, the GOP's newest star|first=Paul|last=West|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2012-aug-01-la-pn-questions-about-the-qualifications-of-ted-cruz-the-gops-newest-star-20120801-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=August 1, 2013|access-date=August 17, 2013}} Donald Trump, one of Cruz's opponents in the Republican primary, repeatedly questioned whether Cruz met the qualifications of being a natural born citizen.{{cite web|last1=Jablonski|first=Ray|title=Ted Cruz is eligible to run for president, even if "birthers" don't think so|url=http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2015/05/ted_cruz_is_eligible_to_run_fo.html|work=The Plain Dealer|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150517191833/http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2015/05/ted_cruz_is_eligible_to_run_fo.html|archive-date=May 17, 2015}}

Opinions, for the most part, concur that Cruz is eligible to serve as President of the United States; most constitutional scholars surveyed by Politico believe that he is eligible,{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz draws presidential buzz, but is he eligible?|author=Catanese, David|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/cruz-draws-presidential-buzz-but-is-he-eligible-85873.html |newspaper=Politico|date=January 7, 2013|access-date=August 18, 2013}}

{{cite journal |last1=Katyal |first1=Neal |last2=Clement |first2=Paul |date=March 11, 2015 |title=On the Meaning of "Natural Born Citizen" |url=http://harvardlawreview.org/2015/03/on-the-meaning-of-natural-born-citizen/ |journal=Harvard Law Review |publisher=The Harvard Law Review Association |volume=128 |page=161 |access-date=11 February 2016}} and "a small, but vocal group" has issued challenges that he is not.{{cite web|last=McManamon|first=Mary|date=2015|ssrn=2600163|title=The Natural Born Citizens Clause as Originally Understood|publisher=Catholic University Law Review}}{{cite news |last=Posner |first=Eric |date=February 8, 2016 |title=Ted Cruz Is Not Eligible to Be President: At least according to the most plausible constitutional interpretation. |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/view_from_chicago/2016/02/trump_is_right_ted_cruz_is_not_eligible_to_be_president.html | newspaper=Slate |access-date=February 8, 2016}} According to a memo from the Congressional Research Service, "The weight of scholarly legal and historical opinion appears to support the notion that 'natural born Citizen' means one who is entitled under the Constitution or laws of the United States to U.S. citizenship 'at birth' or 'by birth,' including... those born abroad of one citizen parent who has met U.S. residency requirements."{{cite news|title=Yes, Ted Cruz Can Be Born in Canada and Still Become President of the U.S.|author=Graham, David A.|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/05/yes-ted-cruz-can-be-born-in-canada-and-still-become-president-of-the-us/275469/|newspaper=The Atlantic|date=May 1, 2013|access-date=July 30, 2013}}

Several lawsuits and ballot challenges asserting that Cruz is ineligible have been filed.{{Cite news|title=Cruz's 'Natural-Born Citizen' Status Tested in Birther Suit|first1=Laurel Brubaker|last1=Calkins|first2=Kevin|last2=Cirilli|newspaper=Bloomberg Business|date=2016-01-14|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-15/cruz-s-natural-born-citizen-status-challenged-in-birther-suit|access-date=2016-02-17}}

No lawsuit or challenge has been successful, and in February 2016 the Illinois Board of Elections ruled in Cruz's favor, stating, "The candidate is a natural born citizen by virtue of being born in Canada to his mother who was a U.S. citizen at the time of his birth."{{cite news |last=Merda |first=Chad |date=February 3, 2016 |title=Illinois election board: Ted Cruz is a natural-born citizen |url=http://national.suntimes.com/national-world-news/7/72/2541002/ted-cruz-illinois-natural-born-citizen |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |location=Chicago, Illinois |access-date=February 4, 2016 |quote="The candidate is a natural born citizen by virtue of being born in Canada to his mother who was a U.S. citizen at the time of his birth," the board said. It pointed out that Cruz "did not have to take any steps to go through a naturalization process at some point after birth" and therefore "further discussion on this issue is unnecessary." |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204093102/http://national.suntimes.com/national-world-news/7/72/2541002/ted-cruz-illinois-natural-born-citizen/ |archive-date=February 4, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}

Cruz raised nearly {{USD}}4 million in the first eight days after he announced his presidential campaign.{{cite news | last1=Willis | first1=Derek | title=In a Short Time, Ted Cruz Has Raised Big Money From Small Donors | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/upshot/what-ted-cruzs-early-fund-raising-means-and-doesnt.html?rref=politics&abt=0002&abg=1 | date=April 2, 2015 | work=The New York Times | access-date=April 2, 2015}} 95% of the donations to Cruz's campaign came in contributions of less than {{USD}}100.

File:Ted Cruz Booth Naples 2016.jpg, January 2016]]

On April 8, 2015, it was reported that super PACs backing Cruz had raised {{USD}}31 million in a week, one of the biggest fundraising surges in modern presidential-race history to date.{{cite news | last1=Costa | first1=Robert | last2=Zezima | first2=Katie | title=Groups Backing Ted Cruz Raise $31 Million in a Single Week | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/groups-backing-ted-cruz-raise-31-million-in-a-single-week/2015/04/08/36defc18-de0c-11e4-a1b8-2ed88bc190d2_story.html | date=April 8, 2015 | newspaper=The Washington Post | access-date=April 9, 2015}} The Cruz campaign was funded by six separate super PACs,{{cite web|url=http://realtime.influenceexplorer.com/presidential-committees/|title=Presidential fundraising}} an unusually large number, described as "unprecedented" by CNN campaign finance experts.{{cite web|url=https://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2015/09/04/the-perplexing-case-of-the-ted-cruz-super-pacs/|title=The perplexing case of the Ted Cruz super PACs|publisher=Sunlight Foundation|date=September 4, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/09/politics/election-2016-ted-cruz-super-pacs/|title=Ted Cruz super PACs: A new era of political fundraising|publisher=CNN|author=MJ Lee and Jeremy Diamond|date=April 9, 2015}} According to Dathan Voelter, treasurer of several of the PACs, this allows megadonors to exercise "influence and control" over how their money is spent on the campaign. Of the PACs, Keep the Promise I is funded primarily by a {{USD}}11 million donation from Robert Mercer,{{cite web|url=http://realtime.influenceexplorer.com/filings/1019912/SA/#SA17.4099|publisher=Influence Explorer|title=Itemized Receipts, KEEP THE PROMISE I filing #1019912}} Keep the Promise II is funded entirely from a {{USD}}10 million donation from Toby Neugebauer,{{cite web|url=http://realtime.influenceexplorer.com/filings/1019501/SA/#SA11AI.4099|publisher=Influence Explorer|title=Itemized Receipts, KEEP THE PROMISE II filing #1019501}} and Keep the Promise III is funded by {{USD}}15 million{{cite web|url=http://realtime.influenceexplorer.com/filings/1019818/SA/|publisher=Influence Explorer|title=Itemized Receipts, KEEP THE PROMISE III filing #1019818}} donated by Dan and Farris Wilks, two billionaire brothers from Cruz's home state of Texas, and their wives. As of July 25, a total of {{USD}}38 million was pledged to Keep The Promise super PACs.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/25/politics/ted-cruz-wilks-brothers/|title=First on CNN: Billionaire brothers give Cruz super PAC {{USD}}15 million|first=Theodore|last=Schleifer|date=July 27, 2015|publisher=CNN}}

Within the first 48 hours after the second Republican primary debate, Cruz's campaign raised {{USD}}1 million, the result of more than 15,000 donations, the average being {{USD}}49.54. Cruz said he was "thrilled by the outpouring of financial support we've seen in such a short amount of time".{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/cruz-post-debate-fundraising-tops-1m-in-48-hours/|title=Cruz Post-Debate Fundraising Tops $1M In 48 Hours|date=September 19, 2015|publisher=CBS Dallas}}

On October 8, the Cruz campaign announced {{USD}}12 million during the previous fundraising quarter, noted by The New York Times as being "substantially less" than that of Ben Carson's campaign who raised {{USD}}20 million in the same time but double than that of Marco Rubio, who had raised {{USD}}6 million within that period. in a campaign statement, it was reported more than 6,000 of his contributors had pledged intentions to make recurring donations every month.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/10/08/ted-cruzs-campaign-raises-12-million-in-third-quarter/|title=Ted Cruz's Campaign Raises $12 Million in Third Quarter|date=October 8, 2015|work=The New York Times|first=Nicholas|last=Confessore}} By this point, according to the Campaign Finance Institute, Cruz was in second place in the Republican primary for large donors, after Jeb Bush. On October 26, billionaire Darwin Deason announced alongside "five other wealthy Texans" that they would be aboard his campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cruzs-secret-fundraising-strength-a-network-of-wealthy-donors/2015/10/26/d170532e-7c0b-11e5-beba-927fd8634498_story.html|title=Cruz's quiet fundraising strength: A network of wealthy donors|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 26, 2015}} The donors beforehand supported Rick Perry prior to his presidential campaign ending the previous month.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/26/politics/ted-cruz-texas-endorsements-dan-patrick/|title=Ted Cruz announces backing of Rick Perry donors, endorsements|publisher=CNN|date=October 27, 2015}}

Less than 24 hours after the CNBC Republican presidential debate, the Cruz campaign raised {{USD}}1.1 million in what was the third straight post debate {{USD}}1 million fundraising haul.{{cite news|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/10/ted-cruz-liberal-media.html/|title=Ted Cruz raises $1.1 million off post-debate 'war on the liberal media'|first=Sylvan|last=Lane|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=October 30, 2015}} Over the last three months of 2015, Cruz raised {{USD}}20 million, increasing his campaign's finances by 66% from its earnings of the previous quarter. Campaign manager Jeff Roe in a memo reported that the Cruz campaign had received 300,000 donors' contributions and told supporters that the campaign had "a network in place with the resources required to win that is the envy of every other campaign."{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/12/30/ted-cruzs-fundraising-jumps-in-4th-quarter/|title=Ted Cruz's Fundraising Jumps in 4th Quarter|first=Janet|last=Hook|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=December 30, 2015l}} On January 7, Cruz's campaign was joined by Republican megadonor Dick Uihlein, who donated US$1 million to his super PAC. Drew Ryun, who works for the Cruz super PAC, said Uihlein was in the top five of the courted Republican donors and called landing him a "good shot in the arm for Ted" as well as boosting the campaign in Iowa.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/politics/ted-cruz-megadonor-dick-uihlein/|title=First on CNN: Megadonor Dick Uihlein gives $1 million to Ted Cruz's Super PAC|date=January 7, 2016|publisher=CNN}} On January 20, in an interview with Mark Levin, Cruz announced that his campaign had superseded US$50 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/01/22/cruz_the_gop_primarys_50_million_man_129419.html|title=Cruz: The GOP Primary's $50 Million Man|first=Rebecca|last=Berg|date=January 22, 2016|publisher=realclearpolitics.com}} More than 40% of Cruz's donations that month came from small donors that he was capable of repeatedly requesting contributions from.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/23/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-super-tuesday-states-fundraising/80802330/|title=Cruz outraises Rubio in Super Tuesday states|date=February 24, 2016|newspaper=USA Today}}

Cruz's campaign strategy relied heavily in gain support of evangelical leaders, donors and voters.{{cite news|last1=Vogel|first1=Kenneth P.|title=Cruz mega-donors' path to 'kingdom building'|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/ted-cruz-dan-wilks-criminal-charges-217724|access-date=12 June 2017|work=Politico|date=2016-01-14}}

Theodore Schleifer of CNN wrote of Cruz's campaign strategy, "Raise enough money to go the distance, court the fans of other conservative candidates who inevitably drop out, and emerge in the spring as the clear conservative alternative to an establishment favorite like Bush."{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/04/politics/ted-cruz-david-dewhurst-strategy/index.html|title=In 2016, Ted Cruz dreams of a 2012 replay|date=September 4, 2015|publisher=CNN|first=Theodore|last=Schleifer}} Barnes acknowledged doubts that Cruz could win the general election, stressing that he would have to carry states won by Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential election and reverse several victories by President Obama to gain enough electoral votes.{{cite news|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/can-ted-cruz-actually-win/article/2000282|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220135155/http://www.weeklystandard.com/can-ted-cruz-actually-win/article/2000282|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 20, 2015|title=Can Ted Cruz Actually Win?|date=December 28, 2015|first=Fred|last=Barnes|publisher=The Weekly Standard}}

Cruz himself believed that the 2016 election will be similar to the 1980 presidential election, suggesting the eventual Republican nominee can win the election through being a conservative and appealing to those types of voters. Cruz has often repeated a line from Ronald Reagan, that to win the election, the Republican Party should be "raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors."{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rich-rubino/ted-cruz-misinterprets-ro_b_8625438.html|title= Ted Cruz Misinterprets Ronald Reagan's 1980 Election Victory|first=Rich|last=Rubino|date=November 22, 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/us/politics/gloomy-republican-campaigns-leave-behind-reagan-cheer.html|title=Gloomy Republican Campaigns Leave Behind Reagan Cheer|first=Jeremy W.|last=Peters|date=September 12, 2015|work=The New York Times}} The Cruz campaign noted that four million conservative voters did not turn out during the previous election, though Barnes noted previous defeats of Republican nominees even when these voters deployed.

Politico{{'}}s Kenneth P. Vogel reported in July 2015 that Cruz had partnered with London-based Cambridge Analytica to collect and analyze data on American voters and using strategic communication to manage voter behavior.{{cite news| url= http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-donor-for-data-119813#ixzz3zR4A2d8U

|author=Kenneth P. Vogel|title=Cruz partners with donor's 'psychographic' firm |publisher=Politico| date=July 7, 2015 |access-date=December 27, 2015}}

Multiple times in the campaign, Cruz has done impressions or impersonations of John F. Kennedy and made claims that Kennedy would be a Republican if he were alive today. The Kennedy family has spoken out condemning the claims with open letters to the media regarding the positions of Kennedy and Cruz.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/01/ted-cruz-john-f-kennedy-213545|last=Schlossberg|first=Jack|date=2016-01-20|title=Ted Cruz Is No Jack Kennedy|newspaper=Politico|access-date=2016-02-17}}{{cite news |url=http://www.people.com/article/jfk-grandson-ted-cruz-no-jack-kennedy|last=McAfee|first=Tierney|title=JFK's Grandson Skewers Ted Cruz: He 'Is No Jack Kennedy'|website=people.com|publisher=Time|access-date=2016-02-17|date=2016-01-21}}{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2016/01/21/jfk-grandson-ted-cruz-claim-that-jfk-would-republican-today-absurd/C7LW0rT7XnKDGvzIcZPqyH/story.html|last=Levenson|first=Eric|title=JFK's grandson: Ted Cruz's claim that JFK would be Republican today is 'absurd'|website=boston.com|publisher=Boston Globe Media Partners|access-date=2016-02-17|date=2016-01-21}}

In April 2016, the campaigns of Cruz and John Kasich agreed to "split up" some of the remaining primaries in an effort to block Donald Trump from gaining the 1,237 delegates necessary to clinch the GOP nomination. However, the pact proved challenging; for example, though Cruz was intended to focus on the Indiana primary, Kasich said that his supporters should still vote for him there.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/25/politics/ted-cruz-john-kasich-joined-forces/|title=How Cruz and Kasich joined forces|date=April 25, 2016|publisher=CNN}} And days later, Cruz clarified that there is "no alliance" but, rather, he and Kasich "made a determination where to focus [the campaigns'] energies."{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/28/politics/john-kasich-ted-cruz-alliance/index.html|title=Ted Cruz on John Kasich: 'There is no alliance'|date=April 28, 2016|publisher=CNN}}

With Rick Perry's exit from the race on September 11, David Johnson, one of Perry's backers in Iowa, reported being approached by Cruz Iowa state director Bryan English who asked if he would consider "another Texan for president". Additionally, Doug Deason, the son of a $5 million donor to Perry's super PAC, mentioned at the time of his dropping out that he had dined with Cruz "a few evenings ago" and was contacted by Cruz finance director Willie Langston.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/11/politics/rick-perry-2016-campaign-suspended/|title=Rick Perry drops out of presidential race|date=September 11, 2015|first=Theodore|last=Schleifer}}

After Scott Walker dropped out of the race on September 21, Cruz's campaign website announced its signing of all three of Walker's Georgia grassroots co-chairmen.{{cite web|url=https://www.tedcruz.org/news/cruz-signs-up-all-three-walker-ga-statewide-co-chair/|title=Cruz Signs Up All Three Walker Ga Statewide Grassroots Co-Chairs|publisher=tedcruz.org}} In early November, Cruz's campaign was joined by former Walker Iowa strategist David Polyansky.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/259459-cruz-picks-up-former-walker-strategist/|title=Cruz picks up former Walker strategist|first=Jordan|last=Fabian|date=November 7, 2015|newspaper=The Hill}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/trackers/2015-11-06/former-scott-walker-strategist-joins-cruz-campaign|title=Former Scott Walker Strategist Joins Cruz Campaign|date=November 6, 2015|first=John|last=McCormick|publisher=Bloomberg}}{{cite news|url=http://www.wdsu.com/politics/top-walker-strategist-joins-cruzs-campaign/36309948|title=Top Walker strategist joins Cruz's campaign|first=Theodore|last=Schleifer|date=November 6, 2015|publisher=wdsu.com}}

On September 28, Cruz released a video showing eight former supporters of Ron Paul who had begun backing him and announced that Bob Barr would chair the coalition of the Cruz campaign composed of libertarian-leaning Republicans. Katie Zezima of The Washington Post wrote that the former Ron Paul supporters would have been inclined to support his son Rand Paul's presidential campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/29/ted-cruz-snags-former-ron-paul-supporters/|title=Ted Cruz snags former Ron Paul supporters|date=September 29, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Katie|last=Zezima}} On January 10, Sam Pimm, who worked for the Ben Carson campaign in New Hampshire, publicly announced he was withdrawing from Carson's campaign to support Cruz. Pimm expressed his belief that Carson could not win the nomination and viewed Cruz as having a higher probability of doing so.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/politics/ben-carson-ted-cruz-sam-pimm-defect/index.html|title=Ben Carson's New Hampshire PAC staff defects to Cruz|date=January 11, 2016|first=Tal|last=Kopan|publisher=CNN}}{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/sam-pimm-ted-cruz-217567|title=Former head of pro-Carson super PAC now supporting Cruz|first=Katie|last=Glueck|date=January 11, 2016|publisher=POLITICO}}

On August 10, Cruz cautioned rival Republican presidential candidates from dismissing Trump, citing that he was attracting large crowds and doing so would not help Republicans reclaim the White House.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/ted-cruz-foolish-for-gop-to-criticize-trump-121241|title=Cruz: 'Foolish' for GOP to criticize Trump|date=August 10, 2015|first=Katie|last=Glueck}}

On September 9, Cruz and Trump made a joint appearance at a rally opposing the 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/09/politics/donald-trump-ted-cruz-2016-iran/index.html|title=Donald Trump, Ted Cruz join forces on Iran|date=September 9, 2015|publisher=CNN}} On November 17, Trump named Cruz when asked about a potential running mate, citing that he liked Cruz and that the senator had backed everything he had said.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/260492-trump-names-cruz-when-asked-about-vp-spot/|title=Trump names Cruz when asked about VP spot|first=Mark|last=Hensch|newspaper=The Hill|date=November 17, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-cruz-2016-ticket-gop-frontrunner-article-1.2438829|title=A Donald Trump-Ted Cruz 2016 ticket? Republican front-runner admits it's possible|work=Daily News|location=New York|first=Adam|last=Edelman|date=November 18, 2015}} On November 30, Cruz stated during a town hall meeting in Iowa that he believed Trump would not be the nominee.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/30/politics/ted-cruz-donald-trump-republican-nominee/|title=Cruz: Trump is not 'gonna be the nominee'|date=November 30, 2015|first=Betsy|last=Klein|publisher=CNN}} It was observed by some commentators that Cruz was straying from insulting or making any disparaging remarks towards Donald Trump in an effort to get his supporters.{{cite news|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/426506/marco-rubio-ted-cruz-gop-nomination|title=Marco Rubio & Ted Cruz: GOP Nomination's Frontrunners|first=Jonah|last=Goldberg|work=National Review|date=November 4, 2015}} Despite this, Cruz came in third place in a Fox News poll, behind Trump and Carson. Tied with Marco Rubio, the poll was said to "poked a hole in the narrative" along with Ben Carson's support rising from 23% to 33% in a poll without Trump while Cruz only went up from 11% to 13%.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ted-cruz-donald-trump-theory-holes-2015-11|title=There's a problem with a common theory about Donald Trump and Ted Cruz|first=Maxwell|last=Tani|website=Business Insider|date=November 5, 2015}} It was noted by commentators that although Cruz could gain the supporters of Trump should he drop out, there was also the possibility that he would not, which would lead to this effort being for naught.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2015/11/19/six-reasons-ted-cruz-is-in-trouble/|title=Six reasons Ted Cruz is in trouble|first=Jennifer|last=Rubin|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 19, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.salon.com/2015/11/23/ted_cruz_has_a_donald_trump_problem_hes_waiting_for_a_trump_collapse_that_may_never_happen/|title=Ted Cruz has a Donald Trump problem: He's waiting for a Trump collapse that may never happen|first=Simon|last=Maloy|date=November 23, 2015|work=Salon}}

In private remarks to donors that were leaked, former President George W. Bush reportedly said that he did not like Cruz and found him to be opportunistic toward Trump, also stressing his belief that Cruz would be a "pretty formidable candidate" to Jeb Bush around the south. Though the Cruz campaign initially declined commenting on the rumors, Cruz released a public statement where he expressed his "great respect" for the former president and that he would "always be grateful to him" since he met his wife while working on his presidential campaign in 2000. Cruz reasoned that Bush's remarks were made to support his brother, the cause of his additional commenting on other candidates, though Cruz refused to "reciprocate" any attacks.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/jeb-bush-george-bush-donors-ted-cruz-214933|title=George W. Bush unleashes on Ted Cruz|date=October 19, 2015|publisher=Politico|first=Eli|last=Stokols}}

On December 11, during an appearance in Iowa, Trump admitted to liking Cruz, but mentioned that "not a lot of evangelicals come out of Cuba". The comment was seen as a reference to Cruz's father Rafael Cruz, who had escaped from Cuba in his early adulthood and was viewed as Trump's first attack on Cruz.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/11/politics/donald-trump-ted-cruz-iowa-ethanol/index.html|title=Donald Trump launches first attacks against Ted Cruz|date=December 11, 2015|first=Theodore|last=Schleifer|publisher=CNN}} Following those remarks, on December 13, Trump went on to say that he had "far better judgement" than Cruz, citing his opposition to the Iraq War as an example.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/13/politics/donald-trump-ted-cruz-judgment/|title=Trump: 'I have far better judgment' than Cruz|date=December 13, 2015|first=Eugene|last=Scott|publisher=CNN}}

Trump was involved in questioning of Cruz's eligibility for the presidency in January and claimed he was trying to help Cruz, who argued that in politics, "it's fairly unusual for your opponents who are running for the same position to be actually trying to help you".{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/campaign-2016-ted-cruz-hits-back-at-donald-trump-over-citizenship/|title=Ted Cruz hits back at Donald Trump over citizenship|publisher=CBS News|date=January 7, 2016|first=Major|last=Garrett}} Cruz responded to Trump on January 12 with the assertion that he and Hillary Clinton knew each other well and that "it's interesting that Hillary Clinton's key supporters are doing everything they can to echo Donald's attacks on me."{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ted-cruz-donald-trump-canada-polls-2016-1|title=TED CRUZ: Polls show Donald Trump 'loses to Hillary — and loses by a pretty big margin'|date=January 12, 2016|first=Colin|last=Campbell}} After Cruz and Trump had several exchanges in the Fox Business debate on January 14, Trump said after the debate that he believed "the bromance" between the pair had ended.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/14/politics/republican-debate-2016-highlights/index.html?eref=rss_latest|title=GOP debate: Trump-Cruz 'bromance' is over|first=MJ|last=Lee|date=January 15, 2016|publisher=CNN}} On January 17, Trump acknowledged Cruz had been "so nice to me" before dubbing him "a nasty guy" and adding: "Nobody likes him, nobody in Congress likes him, nobody likes him anywhere once they get to know him."{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/donald-trump-ted-cruz-nasty-guy-217896|title=Trump brands Cruz a 'nasty guy'|date=January 17, 2016|publisher=POLITICO|first=Isaac|last=Arnsdorf}} Cruz said on January 25 that Trump potentially could become "unstoppable" if he were to win Iowa, at the same time mentioning his substantial lead in New Hampshire and arguing that his campaign was the only one that could defeat Trump in Iowa.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/25/politics/ted-cruz-donald-trump-iowa/|title=Cruz: Trump 'could be unstoppable' if he wins Iowa|date=January 26, 2016|first=Jeremy|last=Diamond|publisher=CNN}}

With Trump declining to participate in the January 28 Fox News debate, Cruz invited him to a one-on-one debate, saying he would like to invite Trump if the latter was afraid of Megyn Kelly and launching a website seeking support of those in favor of a debate between the two candidates.{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/01/26/media/donald-trump-ted-cruz-debate/|title=Ted Cruz invites Donald Trump to go mano a mano in debate|date=January 27, 2016|publisher=CNN|first=Dylan|last=Byers}} Trump's campaign responded by saying Trump would debate Cruz if the two became the last candidates in the race.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-responds-ted-cruzs-debate-challenge/story?id=36537602|title=Donald Trump Responds to Ted Cruz's Debate Challenge|first=Jessica|last=Hopper|publisher=ABC News}} Cruz lampooned Trump at the Fox News debate, saying, "Now, secondly, let me say I'm a maniac and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat, and ugly. And Ben, you're a terrible surgeon. Now that we've gotten the Donald Trump portion out of the way...."{{cite news|url=http://www.salon.com/2016/01/29/misfires_at_gop_debate_jeb_bush_ted_cruz_embarrass_themselves_while_taking_shots_at_donald_trump/|title=Misfires at GOP debate: Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz embarrass themselves while taking shots at Donald Trump|work=Salon|date=January 28, 2016}} On January 31, Trump criticized Cruz for a controversial mailer that the Cruz campaign sent to voters in Iowa. The mailer was designed to look like an official document that accused the recipient of a "VOTING VIOLATION" for failure to turn out in past elections. The mailer was promptly condemned by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate who said the mailer "misrepresents the role of my office, and worse, misrepresents Iowa election law."{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/ted-cruz-mailer-iowa-official-slams-218459#ixzz3yrYi5f6T/|title=Trump rips 'dishonest' and 'deceptive' Cruz mailer|publisher=POLITICO|date=January 31, 2016}}

{{Main|List of Ted Cruz 2016 presidential campaign endorsements}}

{{see also|Endorsements in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries}}

• Political positions of Ted Cruz
• 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries
• 2016 Republican Party presidential candidates
• 2016 Republican Party presidential debates and forums

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.tedcruz.org Cruz for President] official campaign site

{{2016 United States presidential election}}

{{Portalbar|2010s|Conservatism|Politics|Texas|United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016}}

Cruz, Ted

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Category:Ted Cruz

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