Key Iowa conservative: If caucuses were today, Cruz would 'walk away with it'

Video still by PBS NewsHour

One of Iowa's biggest conservative names told the National Journal that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, would "walk away" with the state's caucuses if they were held today.

"What's happened, the opposition, the Left and the establishment of the Republican Party has elevated Ted Cruz to an unprecedented level if he chooses to run in 2016," said Bob Vander Plaats, the head of a socially-conservative organization in Iowa called The Family Leader. "I really believe if the Iowa caucuses were held today, I don't even think it'd be close. Ted Cruz would walk away with it."

A number of recent reports have covered the positive impact of the partial government shutdown on Cruz's popularity. The Atlantic reported that Cruz's political action committee pulled in nearly $800,000 during a time frame that included his pseudo filibuster on the Senate's continuing resolution.

H/T Sam Lane