An important predictor of political success is likeability, and so far, newly-minted Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz does all right with Republicans.
Gallup finds his image “fairly average compared with other candidates, and not one that stands out in an unusual way. He has not picked up an inordinately high percentage of unfavorable evaluations among his fellow Republicans, nor does he soar to the top of the pack on the positive side.”
More than half of Republicans are familiar with him, while roughly 40 percent say they don’t know enough to form an opinion. Cruz announced Monday he’s seeking the party’s 2016 presidential nomination.
According to Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport, “he has a lot of room to grow.”
He found that “Some argue that Cruz may have alienated many of his fellow Republicans, at least those in the Senate and other leaders, with his ideologically rigid tactics that helped lead to the fall 2013 government shutdown. But we don't find much evidence for that among Republicans nationally.”
Cruz ranks sixth among potential Republican candidates with a 44 percent favorability rating. Topping is list is former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Next are Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker comes in at 41 percent, but his unfavorable number is only 5 percent. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has a 40 percent favorable rating – but a 31 percent unfavorable rating.