Sen. Ted Cruz's blazing speech to kick off his 2016 presidential campaign was a model of "true conservatism" and just what the Republican Party needs, veteran GOP consultant Mary Matalin tells
Newsmax TV.
"That's what courageous conservatism looks like. We haven't seen it for so long, we don't recognize it," Matalin said Wednesday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV.
"He comes literate on our founding documents, our founding principles, our rights.
"That was a beautifully delivered, beautifully constructed, inspirational example of true conservatism, and I love calling it courageous because that's what it is."
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On Monday, Cruz was the first Republican of a crowded field to formally throw his hat into the ring. He delivered a fiery address before hundreds of cheering Christian conservatives at Liberty University.
Matalin — an adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney and campaign director for President George W. Bush — said the fact that some establishment Republicans want to kick Cruz to the curb proves he is on the right track.
"I would consider all of that a compliment to … the danger he represents to everybody, and I include fellow Republicans, who are just part of the crowd," she said.
"Normal Americans are so frustrated with both parties in Washington, but conservative Americans are more frustrated with the Republican Party because they don't recognize it."
But can Cruz ride his conservative wave all the way to the shores of the White House?
"I don't think that's going to happen. First of all, we're going to have the full spectrum of conservatism, not just courageous, but competent conservatism, represented by [Wisconsin Gov. Scott] Walker and others. Governors with a record that they can stand on right now," Matalin said.
"Then we have two strategies … the [Sen. Rand Paul] strategy to expand the electorate by appealing to nontraditional voters, he's been going into minority communities and such.
"Then there's Cruz strategy, which is to expand the electorate by bringing out conservative voters — close to 8 million of them who have sat home for the last two cycles."
She said that what Republicans need to understand is that their sweeping victories in the midterm elections last year were not a validation of the party's leadership.
"They were … a really intense opposition to an Obama government expansion, of government and intrusiveness. [It was] a specific, stated strategy was just to run against Obama."
Matalin also said that Democrats are keeping an eye on possible alternatives to Hillary Clinton, their presumed nominee next year.
"[They] say she's the inevitable one, she's the chosen one, but behind the scenes, [there are] the Elizabeth Warren factions, the Jim Webb factions," she said of the Massachusetts senator and the former Virginia senator.
"I'd watch out for Jim Webb. Everyone is discounting him, but that guy is a real fighter, and the notion that we're going to go backwards to another Clinton, that's a strategic problem.
"The emails and Benghazi and all of that, [which] the press is not talking about. But behind the scenes, Democrats are."
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