Story highlights Texas senator speaks to meeting of Republican Jewish Coalition

Cruz argues he has path to White House

Las Vegas (CNN) Ted Cruz sought in a speech Saturday to erase lingering skepticism from Jewish Republicans about his ability to win in November and predicted a Donald Trump nomination would result in a "bloodbath of Walter Mondale proportions."

"Can Cruz win?" the Texas senator said here at The Venetian hotel before the Republican Jewish Coalition, warning that he would "get a little wonky" before hundreds of leaders. "The best policy positions in the world don't mean squat if you lose."

Cruz, acknowledging that he likely disagrees with those in the crowd on immigration and social issues such as gay marriage, noted correctly that he was not the first choice of many Republicans in the room.

But he stressed to Jewish leaders here that he was both their best chance to maintain GOP control of Congress -- key to conservative foreign policy hands -- and the best second choice they have in the race, raising the specter of a blowout should Trump lead the GOP ticket.

"If the top of the ticket is blown out of the water by 10 points, we're losing the Senate. And there's not a thing that can be done to stop it," Cruz said, saying a Trump candidacy would lead to a "bloodbath of Walter Mondale proportions."

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