Washington (CNN)Ted Cruz is back in his favorite place: the spotlight. 

As the first candidate to quit the charade of "exploring" a presidential run and actually jumping in, the Texas Republican senator presented an image Monday of decisiveness and vision -- all before an auditorium of mostly supportive young evangelicals. 

Now comes the hard part. 

Cruz must make inroads with wide swaths of the GOP if he hopes to break through as a top-tier candidate. He doesn't have many friends in the party establishment thanks to his hard-line tactics on issues like Obamacare. And he's facing steep competition for the conservative vote from the likes of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Even evangelicals, Cruz's target audience during his launch speech at Liberty University, aren't firmly in his column. 

The firebrand's decision to jump-start the 2016 election season now is an implicit admission of the daunting challenges he will face in a crowded GOP field where multiple Republicans will vie for the same social and evangelical support base. 

"Ted is clearly a player," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a Christian public policy ministry. "But the competition this cycle is very steep." 

By choosing Liberty University in Virginia, which was founded by fundamentalist preacher Jerry Falwell, to roll out his long shot campaign, Cruz made clear he won't cede the Christian right to another candidate. 

"From the dawn of this country, at every stage, America has enjoyed God's providential blessing," said Cruz, roaming the stage with a microphone like a megachurch preacher on a Sunday morning. "Over and over again, when we faced impossible odds, the American people rose to the challenge. You know, compared to that, repealing Obamacare and abolishing the IRS ain't all that tough." 
who said "ted is a player"?
what is his name?
what does the Family research Council do?
who was Tony referring to?
which state is he a senator?
is he republican or a democrat?
what is his favorite place to be?
who is giving him competition?
of what state?
what title does Scott Walker have?
where was Cruz's launch speech?
who found it?
does Ted have many friends in the party?
is Cruz prepared to cede the Christian right?
doe he want to abolish the IRS?
what does he want to do to Obamacare?
Is he looking to target evangelicals?
what year did he kick off his campaign?
president of the Family Research Council,
"Ted is clearly a player," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council,
Tony Perkins
"Ted is clearly a player," said Tony Perkins
Christian public policy ministry
Ted is clearly a player," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a Christian public policy ministry
Ted Cruz
Washington (CNN)Ted Cruz is back in his favorite place: the spotligh
Texas
s the first candidate to quit the charade of "exploring" a presidential run and actually jumping in, the Texas Republican senator 
Republican
and actually jumping in, the Texas Republican senator presented an image Monday of decisiveness and vision 
the spotlight.
ed Cruz is back in his favorite place: the spotlight.
. Scott Walker
And he's facing steep competition for the conservative vote from the likes of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker
Wisconsin
And he's facing steep competition for the conservative vote from the likes of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker
Wisconsin Gov.
Wisconsin Gov.
Liberty University
Cruz's target audience during his launch speech at Liberty University, aren't firmly in his column. 
Jerry Falwell
By choosing Liberty University in Virginia, which was founded by fundamentalist preacher Jerry Falwell
unknown
unknown
No
ruz made clear he won't cede the Christian right to another candidate. 
Yes
ou know, compared to that, repealing Obamacare and abolishing the IRS ain't all that tough."
repeal
You know, compared to that, repealing Obamacare and abolishing the IRS ain't all that tough."
yes
Even evangelicals, Cruz's target audience during his launch speech at Liberty University, aren't firmly in his column. 
2016
The firebrand's decision to jump-start the 2016 election season now is an