IN Radio: Report..Hoosier State Not Talking Up Cruz

Tony Katz, WIBC

The resistance to Donald Trump among right-wing talkers was one of the most powerful tools in Cruz's arsenal in his win in Indiana's northern Midwestern neighbor, Wisconsin, earlier this month.

But, according to CNN, in the Hoosier State, talk radio, and the people on it, just aren't as interested in stopping Trump.

"The audience is pretty damn smart, and they're not coming to me to tell them what to do," said Tony Katz, a conservative talker who hosts the morning show on Emmis' WIBC 93.1 FM and has interviewed Cruz several times in recent days.

Now, after badly losing six East Coast primaries, Cruz is trying to resurrect his momentum in Indiana. The state's governor, Mike Pence, endorsed Cruz on one of its most influential conservative talk radio programs -- just as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had done on Sykes' show in the Badger State.

"Never mind the radio hosts: There isn't a large never-Trump movement here," Katz said. "There are people who don't like Trump, but never Trump? No."

Pat Miller, WOWO

Pat Miller, the afternoon host for WOWO 1190 AM / 107.5 FM in Fort Wayne, is broadcast in the state's most conservative and Evangelical region. He supports Cruz -- but doesn't bash Trump.

"We're not on the anti-Trump train," Miller said. "I don't think that people really sense that the best way to move forward politically is to be anti. I think they feel the best way to do it is to be pro-whatever you're going for. ... I don't need to be against Trump."

Jeff Smulyan, the CEO of  Emmis Communications, said there's less appetite for unbending conservatives on the airwaves in recent years -- which is why he dropped the titan of right-wing radio in 2015.

"People always say, why'd you cancel Rush Limbaugh?" Smulyan said. "Very simple: Because Rush Limbaugh's act is wearing a little thin. It's very old, very white. Everything gets canceled in our business for the same reason: Lack of saleable ratings."

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