The differences between this tour and Cruz’s first major trip through the South — a summer bus tour in August — are manifest. The crowds are bigger this time and the events come with more bells and whistles, ranging from videos that feature endorsements from prominent conservative leaders to the heightened presence of lawmakers and party officials.

Back in August, as a middle-of-the-packer, Cruz’s stops at restaurants and in parking lots had an informal feel. Now, firmly ensconced in second place after Trump in national polls and leading in Iowa, Cruz holds elaborate and orderly gatherings marked by single-file lines to enter the venues, VIP lists and a robust security presence.

“Typically a conservative campaign is an insurgency, and this is not an insurgency,” said campaign manager Jeff Roe. “This is a methodical plan that’s coming together every single day as more conservatives unite.”