Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Monday became the first major Republican politician to announce that he is running for president in 2016. By making it official so early, before even launching the customary exploratory committee, Cruz reportedly hopes to recapture the spotlight following weeks and months of chatter about other prospective candidates, particularly Jeb Bush and Scott Walker.
But entering the race so early could prove to be inauspicious. As The Economist points out, in an article about the crazy duration of the modern American presidential campaign, "The first Republican to declare has not gone on to win the nomination since at least 1952."
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