As [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ] and [mc_name name=’Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’R000595′ ] duke it out for second place in the polls, CNN has released a compilation of what they deem the “best-and-awkward” moments of [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ] campaign’s raw video footage.  One link to the video on their home page is entitled, “What’s up with that weird Cruz family video?”

Presumably, their goal is to make Cruz look foolish.  But fortunately for Cruz, the video actually makes him more likeable.  The edited video by CNN can be seen below:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO_MkcZh-VY[/youtube]

I will be the first to admit, although I voted for him here in Texas and really do like him as a senator, I have not been a fan of his presidential bid.  The biggest problem I have with Cruz has been his likeability factor; more specifically, his blunt, no holds barred style fits well in Texas, but I see it being exploited in the media as divisive, to his disadvantage.  But I digress.

Anyone who knows anything about filming and editing knows it takes a myriad of shots to get the “perfect” take.  That isn’t peculiar or specific to the Cruz campaign.

Is some of it awkward to watch?  Absolutely.  But that isn’t really attributed to Cruz personally.  On a related note, I hope someone got that guy a cough drop.

But this video is pretty humorous, and it actually makes Cruz look like a regular guy.  So often, we see candidates in their campaign videos with the wind blowing their hair just right, a gleam in their eye, as words flow effortlessly from their lips.

They only choose the very best shots at the best angles, making sure to never make their candidate look anything but perfect.  With everything so rehearsed, it’s impossible to take any of it to heart.  None of it is real.

Maybe that’s why this was so refreshing to watch.  [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ] is a regular guy, with a family who isn’t quite sure how to handle the attention from cameras, which is- again, actually normal.  His mother and wife are uncomfortable with getting too personal, and who wouldn’t be?  It was genuinely endearing to watch.

The footage actually came from a Youtube account affiliated with Cruz, called [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ] for Senate.  The account uploaded hours upon hours of raw footage from this shoot about 4 months ago.  No one heard anything about them until CNN took the time to sift through them all and edit them down to exhibit their “weird [mc_name name=’Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)’ chamber=’senate’ mcid=’C001098′ ] family video.”

If any Republicans are on the fence about him, this video only lends to his credit.  I haven’t quite jumped on the bandwagon yet, but in his rally to rise past Rubio, he should send CNN a thank you card for the extra positive attention.