First, he’s a brilliant guy, and a brilliant politician. So, despite his record, he’s able to sell himself to GOP primary voters as the acceptable face of Trumpism. The media are happy to cooperate, since they find anyone preferable to Trump, especially a warmongering neocon whose wife was VP of Goldman Sachs, even if they don’t like his style. He’s hardly an outsider.

Ted is too smart to denounce Trump. Only the losers have done that. He does gently separate himself, as on the recent Muslim pause controversy.

Ted started his public climb by calling McConnell a liar and threatening to “shut down the government” (if only) over Planned Parenthood. It was just a stunt–the GOP loves PP and every other program–but a successful one.

He’s also able to pretend to be a libertarian to take Rand’s support, and pretend to be an immigration reformer to take Trump’s. And his tear-jerking Old Testament Protestantism is made to order for Iowa and South Carolina, etc.

When Ted sought Adelson’s blessing, Sheldon liked him, but preferred the wimpier style of Rubio. Watch for Adelson to eventually go for Ted.

Rand must regret pulling out all the stops to elect Ted to the US senate. But here’s a wild card: Trump is also brilliant and a brilliant politician. He knows exactly what’s going on, and sees Ted as a pale imitation of the real deal. He has much up his un-PC sleeve. Only one thing for sure: it’s a fun time to have a Political Theatre blog.