Pollster: Cruz would hurt Republican House hopefuls most

[RandySF]

A leading Republican pollster privately told Speaker Paul Ryan and his leadership team Sen. Ted Cruz would be the biggest drag on House Republicans should he win his party’s nomination, according to multiple sources who attended a small meeting of senior GOP lawmakers earlier this month.

During the gathering in Annapolis, Maryland, Dave Sackett of the Tarrance Group reviewed a recent poll he conducted for the National Republican Congressional Committee that described internal party data, including how voters feel about Donald Trump’s calls to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the U.S. and to deport undocumented immigrants.

After the presentation to the group of elected Republican leaders, Ryan (R-Wis.) asked Sackett which of the Republican presidential hopefuls would be most detrimental to GOP House candidates on the ballot this year. Sackett replied that Cruz would have the biggest negative effect, citing the Texas senator’s starkly ideological positions, according to six sources who were in the meeting. Sackett told the group that the public’s perception of Cruz could shift if he becomes the nominee.

The presentation did not include projections of how many seats House Republicans might win or lose. And Sackett told the group — which included Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana — that Republicans could gain seats and retain their majorities, no matter who wins the nomination.



http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/gop-pollster-tells-leadership-cruz-is-bad-for-them-217653#ixzz3xBO6k3GY

[niyad]

1. not nearly as much as he would hurt this country.

[Go Vols]

2. Jeb is way down the list,

I think the R's would prefer him tho.

[napi21]

3. What that pollster said doesn't make sense!!

"The presentation did not include projections of how many seats House Republicans might win or lose. And Sackett told the group — which included Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana — that Republicans could gain seats and retain their majorities, no matter who wins the nomination."

First he says a Cruz nomination would be most detrimental to Pubs in the House. Then he said the statement I posted above. Is he actually saying he just doesn't KNOW? That they "COULD" gain seats ? If Cruz would be the more detrimental nominee, how does that square with gaining seats?