Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, reiterated his pitch on Sunday that if Republicans nominate a moderate candidate to be their presidential nominee in 2016, they’ll lose the White House to the Democrats again.

He called GOP candidates like 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain, the party’s 2008 nominee and 1996 nominee and former Sen. Bob Dole “good, honorable, and decent men” — but not what the GOP needs in 2016.

“If we nominate a candidate in that mold, the same people who stayed home in 2008 and 2012 will stay home in 2016, and the Democrats will win again,” Mr. Cruz told activists at the South Carolina Tea Party Coalition Convention, The Associated Press reported.

South Carolina is home to the south’s first presidential primary contest. If Mr. Romney ultimately enters the race and competes for votes with possible establishment-backed candidates like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, candidates like Mr. Cruz could carve out a rightward path in a bid to scoop up and consolidate disaffected conservatives who want a different direction for the party.

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