New College of Florida offers perspective on Cruz presidential campaign announcement

LOCALIZE THIS STORY: Cruz appeals to conservatives in campaign launch, Washington Post, March 23.
New College of Florida professors know both national and Florida politics, and can help you assess how well Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential bid will play in the Sunshine State.
Frank Alcock, associate professor of political science:
“Ted Cruz’s announcement comes as no surprise. It’ll be the first of many in the coming weeks. The choice of location (Liberty University) is symbolic. He will attempt to seize and hold the far right flank of the GOP field. Jeb Bush will assume the role of establishment candidate. He’ll have an uphill battle in Florida if both Bush and Rubio both run.”
Keith Fitzgerald, associate professor of political science:
“Senator Cruz is unlikely to be a factor in Florida, but if he were to somehow win the nomination, he would help deliver Florida to the Democrats in the general election due to his extreme anti-immigrant views.”
Jack Reilly, assistant professor of political science:
“While a credible candidate, Senator Cruz will likely have trouble getting nominated.  Historically, the best predictor of primary success is support from party elites, and Cruz is a polarizing candidate inside the party who has a record of disagreement with Republican leadership.  He’ll likely fight nationally for the extreme right wing and Tea party components of the Republican party, and I suspect most of his support from within Florida would come from those constituencies as well.”
Alcock and Fitzgerald are available for interviews today (Monday, March 23). To arrange an interview with them or with Reilly, contact David Gulliver, news services manager, 941-487-4154 or [email protected].
###
New College of Florida is a national leader in the arts and sciences and is the State of Florida’s designated honors college for the liberal arts. Consistently ranked among the top public liberal arts colleges in America by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and The Princeton Review, New College attracts highly motivated, academically talented students from 40 states and 15 foreign countries. A higher proportion of New College students receive Fulbright awards than graduates from virtually all other colleges and universities.