Nope. Time honored old fashioned voter fraud cost Romney the election.

Voter fraud and mainstream media propaganda.

"Cruz said what cost Mitt Romney the election were his comments suggesting that 47 percent of Americans were takers dependent on public largesse and beyond the reach of the Republican philosophy of less government."

Almost. What cost Romney was the way the enemedia twisted his words and blew them way out of proportion. Much the same way as they treated his innocent "binders of women" -- which CLEARLY implied enough dossiers of qualified women to fill binders, but was too much fun for propagandizing Socialists in the MSM to resist mischaracterizing.

If his tragic "47% are takers" gaffe or his "binders of women" gaffe were enough to cost the election, then undoubtedly the Obama-Biden ticket produced more than enough campaign-ending gaffes of their own to lose the election, too.

What cost Mitt Romney the election was nothing less than deliberate tailoring of coverage (and selective non-coverage) by the Left-leaning mainstream news media to promote Obama and systematically undermine support for each Republican candidate, starting with the more Conservative ones and ending, ultimately, with Romney in November.

And the Austin American-Spaceman is a proud part of the MSM.

As other posters have mentioned, the 2012 election was lost to voter fraud, the MSM and apathy. However, what will change between now and 2014? 2016? Answer: N-o-t-h-i-n-g. The Right can spout conservatism all they want but the cards are stacked against them. When cheating becomes the `norm`, there is no chance for positive change. All that will `change` between now and 2014 is more people will be on govn handouts, further reducing any chance of conservative, constitutional govn taking hold.

Cruz is my Senator and I love him already. But the task for the Republicans is to somehow take away the impact of the Democrat´s saying "Here. Let me give you this check. You deserve it for the way Republicans have treated you!". As opposed to the Republicans saying, "Vote for us. We´ll create a atmosphere for you to get a nice job and be successful...... Maybe in a year or so!"

Guess which they will choose everytime in today´s self centered society? It is likely that such an obstacle cannot be overcome. The American people has changed. It will all have to come crashing down before it can be rebuilt.

Liberals know the dark side of human nature and prey upon it to keep their power. Selfishness can be manipulated to great political success. Conservatives demand sacrifice and values that build a successful society. But that´s asking far too much from this feckless citizenry. Liberals recognized decades ago that success was to appeal to our most basic faults. And it has worked.

Welcome home Senator. I sometimes feel guilty for loving Texas so much more than America, but I believe America´s founders would feel more at home here than in D.C.

I agree 100% with what he is saying here: Conservatives are the party of the middle- and lower-classes, unless they want to remain on the liberals´ plantation.