Cruz teams up with Fiorina in attempt to revive his campaign

INDIANAPOLIS — Hoping to infuse momentum into his struggling campaign for president, Sen. Ted Cruz bucked tradition Wednesday by naming his would-be running mate should he emerge from the GOP's July convention as the nominee: former tech executive — and former rival — Carly Fiorina.

With fanfare usually reserved for a summer convention, Cruz announced his decision in Indiana, where he is barnstorming the state in what could be his last stand against Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

Cruz hopes Fiorina will appeal to female voters who have been alienated by Trump as well as those who appreciated her sharp performance during her unsuccessful run for the White House.

Cruz won Iowa's first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses in February with nearly 28 percent of the vote. Fiorina finished seventh, earning less than 2 percent of the vote. She dropped out after next performing poorly in New Hampshire as well.

This week, the Texas senator himself endured deep losses with Trump's sweep of mid-Atlantic state primaries. Now he is banking on a win Tuesday in the Hoosier State to propel him forward.

The biggest delegate cache to come is the June 7 primary in California, where Fiorina was the Republican nominee for Senate in 2010.

'She is smart, articulate and loves campaigning,' said Beth Miller, who advised her campaign then. 'People like her and connect with her. She affords him some new life in the campaign since the media will be following him even more closely.'

But Fiorina lost that 2010 race by 10 points to incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer. She now lives in Virginia.

Still, there is some residual fondness for her among the state's Republicans. California donors spent $9.5 million backing her presidential campaign, the third most of any GOP candidate — twice what they've given Cruz.

In announcing a running mate before he is even nominated, Cruz took a page from the playbook of his political idol, Ronald Reagan.

Reagan announced a vice presidential choice, Sen. Richard Schweiker of Pennsylvania, ahead of the 1976 convention. But Reagan's choice of the centrist senator didn't get him much, and he lost that nomination to President Gerald Ford.

Cruz hopes that switching up the narrative may help in Indiana. Voters here don't usually play such an oversize role in the nominating contest and they appear eager to be courted as Cruz travels the state.

But whether the vice presidential pick will provide the voter and donor enthusiasm needed to overcome Trump's romp toward the nomination is less certain.

'I'm not sure it will have the intended effect,' said John Pitney, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College in California, speaking before the formal announcement. 'If I were to guess at the deliberations in the Cruz camp, I would guess they think this would help with women voters and help with California. I don't think it's the game changer they're hoping for.'

Trump called Cruz's move a 'waste of time.'

'Cruz has no path to victory — he is only trying to stay relevant,' Trump said.

In introducing Fiorina Wednesday, Cruz made an overt appeal to female voters, recalling Trump's past criticism of Fiorina's appearance. 'Carly isn't intimidated by bullies because she's faced challenges much worse than someone bellowing and yelling and insulting her face,' Cruz said.

Before clasping hands with Cruz onstage in front of hundreds of supporters, Fiorina said, 'I am prepared to stand by his side and give this everything I have.'

Fiorina won widespread praise for her performance in the Republican presidential debates, where she was the only female candidate.

Her campaign theme that she is an outsider, not a career politician, may resonate with Trump supporters. She has never held office, but says her tenure running Hewlett-Packard shows her leadership skills.

Steve Deace, a conservative Iowa radio host and early Cruz backer who was once skeptical of Fiorina's conservatism, predicted her return to the campaign trail would increase pressure on Trump, who has struggled to win over female voters due to a string of comments widely perceived as sexist.

'Her presence is a daily, living reminder of Trump's struggles with women,' Deace said.

The Tribune and McClatchy Washington bureaus and the Washington Post contributed.