Texas voters think Ted Cruz is a 'jerk' — but they'll vote for him anyway: report

Looking deeply into the tighter-than-normal race between Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and his Democratic opponent Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), the New York Times' Michelle Cottle observed that the incumbent Republican manages to continue to pull out wins even though many of his constituents find him more than a little unlikable.

In her column on Sunday, Cottle noted that Cruz still maintains a narrow lead over Allred despite being "the Democrats’ top Senate target this year" and his reputation as "a divisive, bomb-throwing, lib-owning loudmouth years before Donald Trump entered the political arena."

She also notes that is a major part of his appeal in conservative Texas.

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As she explained, "In a party where Mr. Trump has dragged down candidates and upended elections for years, with so many Republicans redefining themselves in his image, Mr. Cruz has stood out as a pretty indestructible character for someone so disliked," adding, "Mr. Cruz’s unique brand has served him well enough — and attracted a curious coalition of voters who will probably be enough to win him a third term on Nov. 5."

According to Cottle, after covering Cruz for years she has learned that his abrasiveness in public is not just a show designed to gull voters, he is also the same way in private.

'I’ve been talking with Republicans about Mr. Cruz for years, and feel the need to clarify one point: You know the kind of politician who puts on a big show of being a fire-breathing, narcissistic jerk in public but is widely beloved behind the scenes for his big heart or personal charm? Mr. Cruz is not one of those politicians. Pretty much everyone agrees that Ted is all about Ted. You can almost smell the ambition wafting off him, and his unlikability has long been a punchline in Washington," she wrote.

After speaking with voters the columnist pointed out that the secret of his success "...is his ability to cobble together a coalition of voters, many of whom don’t even like him but nonetheless see him as an unapologetic fighter for Texas and for key issues they support — or at least against those they don’t."

"He may be a jerk. But he is their jerk," she concluded.

You can read her entire analysis here.