Ted Cruz is going to be the primary lightning rod drawing attacks from the left, the establishment right, and the insufferable media.   The collective goal will be to “Palinize” him using typical Alinsky tactics like Isolation – Ridicule and – Marginalization.   
Those familiar with how the destructive operation works saw it on overdrive when Sarah Palin was leading conservatives with a principled, constitutional, conservative message.   It was so evident, and unfortunately so painfully effective, people even gave a name to the outcome, “Palin Derangement Syndrome”.
I can guarantee you that right now there is assembled a small group of investigators digging through every second of his life, his finances, his associations and that of his family, to create files of opposition research to use against him.  Their goal will be to ridicule and marginalize him.    The establishment class of Big Government Republicans will do all they can to assist the left. [more after article]
WASHINGTON DC – Sen. Ted Cruz trounced the competition in the presidential straw poll at the 2013 Values Voters Summit, with Dr. Ben Carson and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum coming in a distant second and third places — highlighting how Mr. Cruz has become a rock star with religious conservatives.
Tony Perkins, the head of the Family Research Council, which hosted the three—day event, announced that Mr. Cruz won 42 percent of the vote, while Mr. Carson and Mr. Santorum each captured 13 percent.
“I just spoke with Senator Cruz and he wanted me to convey to you his deep appreciation for your enthusiastic and warm welcome yesterday — and that he was very grateful to know that there are Americans across the country who are standing with him as he stands for your values here in Washington, D.C.,” Mr. Perkins said.  (read more)

Some of the destructive activity you will see, read and hear, will be easy to spot.   The ridicule intended to create the marginalization will be visible from the left.   However, it will also be subtle from the right if you know what to look for.
Matt Drudge, like all the media, will stealthily use unflattering pictures of Ted Cruz to create a mental image in the mind of readers.    They will show him with facial expressions scowling, angry, wide eyed, etc.    All of this is strategic optics and subliminal messaging meant to influence the observer.
Then if someone he has ever associated with makes a stupid move, it will be framed as his advocacy.    The same level of research will be applied to concentric circles of association around Ted Cruz.   Anyone related to, or in association with, Ted Cruz will be viewed as a potentially beneficial to destroying his image, and subsequently him.
The media will begin to research the “life story of Ted Cruz – The Most Hated Man In America”, and frame their docu-stories as discovering the “real” Ted Cruz.   Everything will be framed from a prism of how can this be used to marginalize him?  E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.
His positive attributes will be used as tools to engage in the destruction.   If his background shows him as well educated, he’ll be painted as aloof and a benefactor of patronage.   If his intellect is discussed, he’ll be framed as a wonk.   If his character is highlighted as a value, he’ll be called a rigid ideologue or a religious fanatic….   Positive personality traits will be manipulated to use against him.
It’s how they roll.