Even the GOP’s Leaked Senate Super PAC Memo Says Ted Cruz Is in Trouble
The GOP super-PAC responsible for delivering the Senate in November warned that Ted Cruz, a Republican hardliner from Texas and a senator of the Republican Party, could ruin his party’s chances of retaking the Senate.
According to a memo obtained by Politico from the Senate Leadership Fund’s internal polling, Cruz, a podcaster with fervent views, is ranked 48 percent. He trails his Democratic opponent Colin Allred only by one percentage point.
According to the poll, Cruz led by three points in November. In Texas, support for Cruz also falls behind support for Donald Trump, the former president, by two points. Trump, with 50% support, is five points ahead of Vice President Kamala Harria in Texas.
The memo states that “since early August, Colin Allred outspent Ted Cruz on television, reducing the number of candidates to one point.” It also says that outside GOP groups, including a Cruz super PAC, are closing the gap in spending. “We will be releasing new polling data next week after we carefully monitor additional media placements.”
Cruz is the target of FEC complaints. The FEC alleges that Cruz struck a sketchy agreement to funnel hundreds and thousands of dollars to a super PAC supporting his election from the company syndicating his podcast three times a week. He says he is a “volunteer” who does the podcast.
Democrats made a concerted effort to unseat the Texas Senator when he last stood for reelection. He won by just 2.6 points compared with a 16-point margin when he first was elected in 2012.
According to the memo from Leadership Forum, almost all its candidates running in swing seats trail their Democratic opponents. This includes Eric Hovde, Dave McCormick, Bernie Moreno, Sam Brown, Mike Rogers, Larry Hogan, and Kari Lake in Arizona.
Republicans are still expected to flip the Senate. In Montana, Tim Sheehy is four points ahead incumbent Democrat Senator Jon Tester. Sheehy had a seven-point lead in a New York Times/Siena Montana poll released last week.
According to the memo, another unexpected danger area has flared up in Nebraska, where polls have Sen. Deb Fischer tied with Dan Osborn – an Independent like Bernie Sanders – in a close race.
The memo reads: “We will now conduct polls to determine if intervention is needed to protect the seat.”