Are we about to witness the long awaited Trump-Cruz showdown?

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Do you believe we are about to witness the long awaited showdown that many are looking forward to?

[Bismarck]

It's coming but not quite yet. They both want to snuff out Rubio's rising star first.

[yankeesfan]

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!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2015

.@tedcruz should not make statements behind closed doors to his bosses, he should bring them out into the open - more fun that way!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 11, 2015

[Clark Kent]

Hopefully Cruz rips Trump a new one.

[useful idiot]

It has surprised me so far that Cruz hasn't attacked Trump. The conventional wisdom was that Cruz was waiting for Trump to fade and snatch up his supporters. In reality, Cruz is the only one with the base credentials and rhetorical nastiness to be able to stop Trump. I think Trump ends when Cruz says so, because in a Cruz v. Trump matchup, baseworld is going to back Cruz and Donald probably loses his frontrunner status.

[The Mikado]

Ted Cruz is a coward.

[Likely Voter]

It's kind of weird that Trump has this one rule that he will only go on the attack in response to an attack. He's like a vampire that has to be invited into your home.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

That sad thing is that the establishment's only hope is if they don't get into a cage match with one of them surviving.

[RI]

Cruz still angling for that VP spot.

[yankeesfan]

Maybe they attack each other in Tuesday's debate.

[Classic Conservative]

Ted Cruz is a coward.

No he's smart by focusing on the issues and not going into the hell hole of Donald Trump.

[tpfkaw]

It's kind of weird that Trump has this one rule that he will only go on the attack in response to an attack. He's like a vampire that has to be invited into your home.

He broke it with Carson tho.

[Adam Griffin]

It's kind of weird that Trump has this one rule that he will only go on the attack in response to an attack. He's like a vampire that has to be invited into your home.

He broke it with Carson tho.

He won't attack any LOSERS like Cruz unless attacked first, but if you get anywhere near his huge poll numbers, RIP.

[Bull Moose Base]

Posted this back when Cruz was in mid-single digits.

the Cruz surge is probably coming. We want to see him stubbornly trail only Trump by only 5 points after he has made such a big show of (a) declining to attack anyone (b) cozying up to Trump. And then a frantic Cruz vs Trump to close out the year? That's fun.

I think in 2011, Iowa's rotating leaders largely tracked with national polling and the same happens here. The only departure I recall was Santorum's last-minute surge in Iowa preceded his national one which didn't happen until a month into voting I think.

I do think Cruz is poised to surge in Iowa and maybe nationally too. He's winning over opinion leaders and Carson has a problem with fetal tissue research. As I speculated before, an entertaining scenario is Cruz trailing Trump the way Carson is now and on record as not wanting to attack other Republicans (but obviously prepared to do so).

What else can I help you with?

[Holmes]

Ted Cruz is a coward.

I think Trump promised Cruz a VP spot, and in return asked him to endorse him if he drops out/there is a brokered convention.

[Fuzzy Bear Loves Christian Missionaries]

Ted Cruz is a coward.

No he's smart by focusing on the issues and not going into the hell hole of Donald Trump.

The issues favor Cruz at this point.  He has discipline and intellect.  I find myself respecting him more than I thought I would. 

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

Trump/Cruz is looking more plausible by the day.

[The Other Castro]

Cruz probably knows that Trump would get impeached within the first month.

[Trapsy]

Ted Cruz will play it smart but Cruz is by far the most talented politician out of this republican field.

Edit: Someone post the clip from the private fundraiser, where Cruz breaks down the republican primary/strategy. I can't post links yet.

[yankeesfan]

"You look at the way he's dealt with the Senate, where he goes in there like a -- you know, frankly like a little bit of a maniac," Trump said in an interview with Chris Wallace set to air Sunday morning. "You're never going to get things done that way." He also questioned Cruz's judgment, saying he is not qualified to be president.

[President Johnson]

Cruz will stay a little at the top and then fade away like Carson before him. In the end, it's going to be The Donald or maybe Rubio.