NY Mag: 'O’Rourke has never been closer to catching the Zodiac Killer'

Social media was abuzz this weekend after an article in New York Magazine said Ted Cruz's opponent was getting closer to catching the "Zodiac Killer." >>Famous and fictional people who look like Ted Cruz, according to the internet. less Social media was abuzz this weekend after an article in New York Magazine said Ted Cruz's opponent was getting closer to catching the "Zodiac Killer." >>Famous and fictional people who look like Ted ... more Photo: Evan Vucci, STF Photo: Evan Vucci, STF Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close NY Mag: 'O’Rourke has never been closer to catching the Zodiac Killer' 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

Social media was abuzz this weekend after an article in New York Magazine revived a time-honored joke about Sen. Ted Cruz.

"Beto O'Rourke has never been closer to catching the Zodiac Killer," read the article's opening line reacting to news of tightening polls between Cruz and his Democratic challenger.

Last week, two polls showed Cruz either leading O'Rourke by a thin margin, or in virtual dead heat, with the El Paso lawmaker.

.@NYMag wins lede of the day: "Beto O’Rourke has never been closer to catching the Zodiac Killer." https://t.co/m38RaXjLEZ — Aman Batheja (@amanbatheja) August 3, 2018

"Given that O'Rourke has plausibly cut Cruz's lead in half over the past two months — while remaining unknown to nearly half of the electorate — it's conceivable that he could overtake his rival once he hits the airwaves," reasoned New York Magazine, which refrained from any further Zodiac-Cruz quips.

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The internet obsession with labeling Cruz as the Zodiac Killer ( a California serial killer from the 1960s and 1970s who was never caught) dates back to around 2013.

The joke truly gained popularity during the Texas senator's 2016 run for president.

As with most memes, there's no logic or truth behind the joke, but Cruz himself seems to have a good sense of humor about it.

Last year, Cruz tweeted out an image of one of the Zodiac Killer's cryptic letters to a fellow Republican senator who accidentally spilled Dr. Pepper on him.

Fernando Ramirez covers Texas news and politics. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. | Fernando.ramirez@chron.com | @fernramirez93



