(CNN) - Asked Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" whether Sen. Ted Cruz would be an "attractive" presidential candidate in 2016, Sen. John McCain said he couldn't predict the future but said the Texas Republican will be "very attractive to many" in Cruz's conservative base.
"The question is," he added, "will our party be able to field a winning presidential candidate and vice president so that we can win the election rather than – unfortunately, the record of the last couple has not been what we want it to be.
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"I can say that from a personal standpoint," the 2008 Republican presidential nominee told CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger.
Cruz to CNN: ‘I don’t work for the party bosses in Washington’
Cruz hasn't said he plans to run in the next presidential cycle, but his multiple trips to early primary and caucus states - coupled with his meteoric rise among conservatives - has fueled speculation that he may be interested in a White House bid.
Asked about his plans in an interview with CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash, Cruz said he's focused "entirely" on his job in the U.S. Senate.
Shutdown vote 2016 impact | Ted Cruz wins Values Voter straw poll
He said the reason he has traveled to early voting states is because he's trying to "make the case to the American people."
"You don't get 2 million people signing a national petition without going directly to the people," he said, referring to the "Don't Fund Obamacare" website.
Ted Cruz, back in Texas, rails against fellow Senate Republicans
The Republican attended a GOP fundraiser in New Hampshire in August, gave the keynote address at a GOP dinner in South Carolina in May and visited Iowa twice this summer for separate events. He returns to the Hawkeye State for a third time this week to speak at a dinner in Des Moines and to be a guest at Rep. Steve King's annual Col. Bud Day Pheasant Hunt.
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Oh please! Please! Please! Please let this stooge be the candidate the republicans throw their weight behind. Never in the history of man will there be seen such a lopsided victory for democrats. Never.
Ted Cruz 2016 “BRING IT ON”
Neither political party, currently has a good candidate, that would be even remotely good for America, that can win an election, on the basis of actually improving the disastrous conditions in America, and stop us from the decline we are currently in, nor save us from the economic disaster on the horizon.
Certainly the Democratic Party has only one intention........to maintain the dictatorship Obama created.
after reading this post, the article also says that McCain isn't sure, and it's too early to tell right now, whether Cruz will run or not. No matter what, McCain is also saying that Cruz did what he wanted to do, especially with the filibuster / being the main person who led a Gov't shutdown / in addition to travelling to the Granite state. ( Iowa)
Bottom line is : He got his name out there, and he done what he wanted to do......He's definitely got name recognition, for sure.
BUT – Is this what the Voters in the U.S. want ? That's the 50 million dollar Question. I guess we will find out, when he officially "throws his hat into the ring"
No you can't find a candidate worthy of being our president.
You should know,. You sold your soul for a chance and you unleashed that mutant and member of the independent party of AK on the US and world.
You then kept quiet when she started lying about our now elected President. You will forever be remembered not for disobeying orders and ending up in a POW camp but for that woman!
Has anyone mentioned the fact that Crude cannot run for president. He is not a natural born citizen. I can already hear the cash registers in attorney's offices going KA-CHING, over all the litigation from his buffoons move.
Canuck Cruz/Ooops Perry 2016!
Please, God, please!
Cruz is like a shiny new car which everyone (conservative) is excited about, but that will wear off like it did with Sarah Palin. Americans vote middle of the road, they don't anyone of President that they think will go to far one way or the other. Cruz doesn't have a chance in hell. Rubio and Christy are the only Republicans that might have a chance – we will just have to wait and see. I'll be voting Democrat so it doesn't matter.
I have a lot of respect for John McCain for his service and will not ever take that away from him. I do believe he is a politician inside the beltway like all the rest. I want term limits for congress. If It's good for the president then It should be good enough for congress. They get too comfortable with the power and money after 10yrs. It's up to the people to force term limits on them by voting any person in congress out and bring in new talent ! Thank You !
Kinard....I could NOT agree with you more! Great post!
Why is it that you Repub's can say " individual Dems are bad", but when it comes to talking about nutjobs like your boy Cruz, you always say " Both parties are bad "?
@don in albuquerque We couldn't help notice that your state of NM has the highest increase in insurance premiums under Obamacare of any state in the union. LOL and you are a fan-boy? Hee Hee.
Since the merger of the Demo-Repub party into the party of 1%, the sheep who sharpen the knives for their own throat slitting get thicker and thicker. I think they call it the "Lemming Lunge Into Loser Pond"
He can probably be President of the South, like Jefferson Davis, but that's about it.
If you have no good arguments against Obamacare, just attack the website! A few computer bugs do no make a bad law.
It is like condemning a good manuscript because of an ink blot.
Rick McDaniel
Neither political party, currently has a good candidate, that would be even remotely good for America, that can win an election, on the basis of actually improving the disastrous conditions in America, and stop us from the decline we are currently in, nor save us from the economic disaster on the horizon.
Certainly the Democratic Party has only one intention........to maintain the dictatorship Obama created.
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Dear Mr. Rick McDaniel .
Please keep up the good work , you have convinced me to vote Democratic .
To McDaniel...........If you think this is a "dictatorship" you just probably would for for Cruz........then you'd REALLY know what one was!!!!!!!