Coalition strategy would be better for GOP

Latest national polls show Trump and Cruz well ahead of their rivals by double digits. Much to the delight of the left-leaning media, Hillary, Bernie, and the Dems, this prime-time "bashing" is fragmenting our party and chasing away would be voters that Republicans need to win the general election.

Instead of bashing each other to death in public in an attempt to secure the "top" Republican spot how about an alternative strategy? How about a "grand coalition" instead of a fight-to-the-death match?

If Cruz and Trump step back and look at the banquet table before them, they would see this. Any unifying (repeat unifying) Republican candidate should easily defeat Hillary or Bernie IF they do not alienate the base and if they don't alienate independent voters.

I remind both Cruz and Trump that nearly 4 million Republicans sat out the last election and in so doing, the presidency was gift wrapped and handed to Barack Hussein Obama. I suggest Cruz and Trump form a coalition and share the top two billings - who is president and who is vice president won't matter because it will ultimately take an entire "team" to undo all that Obama has done.

And speaking of the "team" wouldn't it be wise to "draft" Rubio, Bush, Christie, Carson, Fiorina, Bush, Huckabee into the Cruz/Trump ticket?

In my view, the depth of talent on stage during the Republican debates is overwhelming. The fact is that this "last-man-standing" approach to the nomination is a tragic waste of resources.

I encourage Cruz and Trump to join forces and drag the rest of the candidates into their camp by offering them cabinet positions - right now. The end game would be to place an entire cabinet on the ballot - not just two slots.

Dale Plautz

Round Lake