Why Cruz Won’t Take Trump’s Bait

Rick Tyler, a senior adviser to Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign, tells Greg Sargent why they won’t attack Donald Trump even when egged on.

Said Tyler: “We recognized that Trump changed all the rules. Attacking back clearly doesn’t work with him. He’s a celebrity. It’s like attacking your favorite morning host. It would be like going out and attacking your favorite pop star. Fans would hate that.”

“The long-term calculation is two-fold: if it is correct that Trump’s support is rooted more in celebrity than in anything else, attacking him is futile and his support may prove fleeting on its own, meaning there’s little need to make a bid for it by going after him personally and directly.”