Obama gets shocking praise from Republican nemesis: ‘The guy is a political force’

National PoliticsFormer President Barack Obama was described as a "political force" by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP Photo/Paul SancyaBy Howard Koplowitz | hkoplowitz@al.comFormer President Barack Obama’s political and communication skills are so good, he could have been in the White House for life were it not for the Constitution, according to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.Cruz offered the shocking praise for his political nemesis in the latest episode of the Texas senator’s podcast, “Verdict with Ted Cruz.”“Obama may be the most effective Democrat politician of our lifetime. It’s either Obama or Bill Clinton, and the two of them literally stand head and shoulders above every Democrat we’ve ever seen. Head and shoulders above Joe Biden, above Kamala Harris, above John Kerry, above Al Gore,” Cruz said.“Obama’s ability to communicate, it is really powerful, it’s really dangerous, to be honest,” the senator continued. “If we didn’t have the 22nd Amendment, it wouldn’t surprise me if Obama spent the rest of his life in the White House.” Obama has hit the campaign trail supporting Democratic candidates in key contests that will decide control of Congress. He went viral — and stirred controversy for attacking President Donald Trump’s focus on “renovation projects” that has the White House “looking like Saddam Hussein opened up a Cheesecake Factory.”Cruz cautioned for Republicans not to dismiss Obama’s effectiveness.“The guy is a political force,” the senator said. “And he gives you a preview both of what to expect January of 2027 but also what to expect in the 2028 campaign. “If the Democrats take one or both houses of Congress, you can expect hearing after hearing after hearing with a central focus on corruption. Corruption being the major theme that the Democrats are going to push. They’re gonna push corruption targeted at the president, they’re gonna push corruption targeted at the president’s family, they’re gonna push corruption targeted at the cabinet and the sub-cabinet,” Cruz continued, “and part of the narrative that they’re already laying out is corruption tied to data centers and tied to cryptocurrency and try to loop all of that in.”Howard Koplowitz is AL.com's Breaking & Trending Reporter for afternoons and nights. He has been with AL.com since 2015 and has served in a variety of roles, ranging from coverage of Donald Trump's first...