Quote:Kristol, who attended the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas over the weekend, said he was very impressed with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, the first Republican to declare his candidacy for president.

"The big story of the weekend was Cruz. Ted Cruz gave a speech and … it was just outstanding. Five standing ovations," Kristol said.

"I've seen Cruz many times and he's always very good, but at times he can be a little overbearing or a little preachy or maybe not quite thick with the audience. But he really hit on all cylinders."

Kristol said he talked to a number of Republicans before the Cruz speech who told him, "'Well, I respect Cruz and he's good on Israel, but I couldn't nominate him, he's too conservative, too confrontational.'"

But afterward, Kristol said the mood was different.

"It was, 'Boy that was something. I still worry that maybe he couldn't win, but boy, I got to rethink this.'"