Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s naming of Carly Fiorina as a vice presidential running mate is being viewed by many as a last ditch effort to gain momentum before Donald Trump steamrolls his way to the GOP nomination.
Southern Methodist University Political Science Professor Cal Jillson, a presidential scholar, notes that Ronald Reagan also chose a vice presidential candidate prematurely in 1976 when he was losing the GOP race to Gerald Ford. The strategy didn’t work for Reagan, and Jillson said it won’t work for Cruz.
In a conversation with Texas Public Radio’s Shelley Kofler Jillson said:
About naming Fiorina: “Sen. Cruz has to change the narrative. This is Hail Mary pass and as with most Hail Mary passes it’s likely to be batted down rather than completed.”
On the choice of Fiorina: “It’s a mixed bag. I don’t think she would add a great many votes in the general election. But in the campaign she would go after Hillary Clinton tooth and nail.”
On Cruz stopping Trump: “I think Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee and I think he will have the delegates he needs before the convention.”
Cruz’s motivation now: “Cruz has nothing to lose. He doesn’t want to go back to the Senate. I don’t think he wants to run for reelection to the Senate. He doesn’t like the Senate. It’s four years before he can run for President again, so I think he’s all in this time around.”
