CRUZ IS CRUISING – AT 8:16 A.M. ET:  No matter what you may think of him, no one doubts Ted Cruz's intelligence or drive.  His grassroots supporters are responding to his announcement that he's running for president by writing the checks.  From the Washington Post: 

CONCORD, New Hampshire -- Sen. Ted Cruz has raised $4 million in the eight days since officially launching his White House bid, his campaign confirmed Wednesday night.

And in a sign of his appeal to grassroots conservatives, his campaign said that 95 percent of the contributions came in amounts of $100 or less.

Cruz, who formally announced his presidential campaign on March 23, remains the only major candidate in either party to officially launch a White House bid. He raised $1 million within a day of his formal announcement, and $2 million within the first three days, according to his campaign. Cruz's campaign said bundlers accounted for one-third of the money raised and that 300 donors maxed out on their contributions to Cruz.

Word of his latest fundraising figures was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

“Often you have an establishment candidate, usually the moderate, who will be well funded,” Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler said in a statement. “Here we have a candidate who is conservative and can raise money.”

COMMENT:  Cruz is a terrific guy, but I must honestly say that I think he's too ideologically rigid to be a successful presidential candidate.  I'm willing to be proved wrong, though, for that was exactly the same charge made against Ronald Reagan.

Expect Rubio, Bush and Walker to get in soon, and probably Carly Fiorina as well.  It's going to be exciting.  The excitement on the Democratic side may lie in how soon Hillary faces an indictment.

April 2, 2015