Ted Cruz’s PR Strategy For Donald Trump

Ted Cruz has a strategy: let Donald Trump throw the punches. Most recently the two have been throwing punches via social media and interviews. Well, Trump throws the punches and Cruz absorbs them while remaining on neutral ground.

As a result, the Republican establishment already leaning towards Ted Cruz is gaining ground in Iowa; some see Cruz in the lead by 10%. Politicians are using social media to appear light-hearted to their voter base, instead of lashing out.

Twitter Battle

Most recently, Donald Trump has taken to his favorite form of media to attack Cruz. Twitter. It started on Friday morning when there were reports that Cruz questioned Trump’s electability at a private fundraiser. Trump responded in a trademark antagonism, tweeting:

“Looks like @tedcruz is getting ready to attack. I am leading by so much he must. I hope so, he will fall like all others. Will be easy!” and “.@tedcruz should not make statements behind closed doors to his bosses, he should bring them out into the open — more fun that way!”

Cruz’s response was a tactical one: “The Establishment’s only hope: Trump & me in a cage match. Sorry to disappoint — @realDonaldTrump is terrific. #DealWithIt”. Cruz plays the long game, supporting Trump while taking shots at a much more complicated relationship, the Republican Establishment.

Trump then changed his viewpoint on Cruz, and both are neglecting to take shots at each other.

Cruz Gaining Ground

With a steady Iowa ground game and an inoffensive public attitude towards Trump, Cruz sets the tone of his election apart from the rest. Despite the ramp up of support for Cruz in Iowa, recent Monmouth polls show Trump at 41% national support, up from 28% in October.

Trump Attacks

Last week Donald Trump ramped up his attacks on Cruz, and on Friday’s Fox News interview called him “a bit of a maniac”. He also took time out in Iowa pitching himself as the most mainstream Christian candidate. “I do like Ted Cruz, but not a lot of evangelicals come out of Cuba,” he told the crowd at a town hall event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. “Not a lot come out.”

At the Debate

At the fourth Republican Debate Tuesday night, Trump and Cruz appeared on stage as friends. Instead, Trump battled with Jeb Bush, and Cruz sparred with Marco Rubio. When Cruz was asked about his attacks on Trump, he deflected and defined the enemy as the Democrats and said anyone at the debate was more qualified than Obama or Hillary.

It’s also worth noting Trump stared him down from the next podium and said “Ted, you better not attack me”.

Jonah Engler is a financial expert and an entrepreneur from NYC.