Ted Cruz Touts His Fights: Obamacare, Debt, Amnesty

For Cruz, a "Proven Record" Of Fighting ... Losing Battles

Sen. Ted Cruz jumped into the presidential race with a two-minute political ad that sought to define himself as the most pugnacious conservative in the race.For a brief moment at the beginning, the ad suggests an interest in appealing to the political center, with Cruz introducing himself as "the son of an immigrant father ... who came to this country with just $100 to his name" and noting that his mother was "a pioneer in computer science, smashing glass ceilings."But his biographical appeals to the middle are quickly followed by his testimony as the conservative who fights the most and the longest. He touts his lonely crusades to "defund Obamacare," "standing up to the leadership from both parties to fight a debt ceiling increase" and "stop President Obama's illegal and unconstitutional amnesty." He even name-checks an issue long dismissed by many as overblown, but not on the Right: "taking on an IRS that was threatening and intimidating its citizens." (Cruz's media consultants make sure to include an image of the former IRS staffer placed on administrative leave who remains a bête noire on the Right: Lois Lerner.)Being on the losing end of so many fights remains a weak spot for Cruz, but he seeks to turn his weakness into strength, distinguishing himself as the most tenacious and committed conservative of the pack. "It's going to take a new generation of courageous conservatives to help make America great again," subtly mocking past attempts to put moderate-sounding qualifiers on conservatism, as George W. Bush did with "compassionate.""If you want real conservative change, and a proven record, I hope I can earn your support," concludes Cruz, treating "proven record" not as a matter of laws enacted -- a contest which he would lose to governors Jeb Bush and Scott Walker -- but by fights instigated, even if they are fights lost.Cruz has a long way to go if he is to secure the Republican presidential nomination -- he generally polls in the single digits among primary voters. There's no question he knows the lines that get die-hard conservatives to applaud. But it's a big question if conservatives will reward a proven fighter over a proven winner.