I understand the argument that Rubio must stay in to win Florida. The trouble is: (1) he’s not going to win Florida (2) the fact that Florida is on Super Tuesday means that he stays in for all the other states that vote that day, and he hurts Cruz’s chances in all those states without winning himself, thus assuring a Trump victory.

Plus, even if Rubio were to win Florida (which I don’t think will happen) he still loses all those other states and gives them to Trump.

The trade-off is not good.

I’m tired of hearing how unattractive Cruz is. I know that he is, and it’s irrelevant. All the attractive candidates are gone. He may be attractive enough, running against Hillary. He does pretty well in polls against her. I agree that the press has hardly begun to attack him. But that is true for every single potential GOP candidate.

Bickle was someone McCain specifically disavowed when he endorsed him in 08. Cruz campaign defended Bickle here. But hey, 50m missing evangelical voters or something.http://www.redstate.com/dan_mclaughlin/2015/11/26/myth-4-million-conservative-voters-stayed-home-2012/

Oh, also Rafael Sr is a fraud: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatches/2015/10/23/rafael-cruz-inflated-credentials/

Who makes other things up: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/10/us/politics/cuban-peers-dispute-ted-cruzs-fathers-story-of-fighting-for-castro.html

And says weird things: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/02/rafael-cruz-ted-cruz-campaign-god-sign

And Cruz, supposedly a devout southern baptist, gave almost no money to his church: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2016/01/22/will-ted-cruzs-charitable-giving-hurt-him-with-tithing-evangelicals/ (This was over the time period that he and his wife earned nearly $10m, but he was “saving money for his daughters” or something>

He’s just a regular conservative politician, not some savior. He lied abou this immigration support. And he’s not attractive to the general public. But try telling this to starry-eyed conservatives who just want their own Obama.

Cruz supporters have never looked at how Cruz would win a general. Oh he’s the best chance to stop Trump…well, yes, when juvenile anger is governing everyone, I suppose so. And when the field was divided 10 ways forever, yes. Rubio had to suffer through the R2R $50m advertising onslaught. During that time, Cruz was hugging Trump and validating him in the eyes of any voter torn between the two. But this is never mentioned along with any of Cruz’s dumbass ideas about how to win an election outside of Texas.

Even so, Cruz fans have been insufferable on this point. He has underperformed to date in areas he was supposed to win outright. He has little chance to win the general. It’s been a delusional candidacy both by the candidate and his supporters.

But he’ll be the man now, I guess. He’ll lose to Hillary then we can all return to trying to find the next McCain or Romney I guess.

I didn’t list the VP possibility for Rubio because I don’t think that he would stay in the race for that reason, especially if he loses Florida. Losing Florida makes him look very bad. And his staying in the race may or may not help Trump (it’s unclear) and definitely does not help Cruz. Bottom line is that I think dropping out now would enhance his chances for a VP pick, and staying in does not enhance them.

By the way, I really don’t understand why anyone would interpret Trump’s apparent crossover votes in open primaries as evidence these people will vote for him in the general. Many may have other reasons for doing what they’re doing, and may end up voting for the Democrat in the general. What’s more even if they crossover and vote for Trump in the general, Trump probably loses a lot of Republican votes and what matters is the net result.

I agree with you, though, that the GOP’s chances in this election once looked fabulous and now they look rather grim. That could change, of course.

(6) Rubio’s hoping for the VP slot. That would keep him in the public eye for a 2020 or 2024 presidential run.

Trump beats Hillary, but he’s not going to beat Good Old Uncle Joe, who will be the Democratic nominee if Trump is the Republican. If Cruz is the nominee, Hillary stays in, but, since Cruz gets little or no crossover, independent, or Reagan Democrat votes, he loses.

Notice how Trump wins the open primaries, Cruz wins the closed. He’s another Goldwater, a very good man who will go down to ignominious defeat. I suppose if Trump could just turn off his insults, bs, and general 4th grade manner, and learn something about the issues, he might be able to beat Joe, but I don’t see that happening.

When the campaign opened, with the quality of people we had up there at the beginning, I didn’t see how we could lose. Now I can’t see how we can win.

Also, if Kasich keeps rallying in the polls, Rubio looks that much more likely as a compromise candidate at a brokered convention. That is, if Kasich can increase in delegate count, and the pro-Cruz rally peters out, there are three non-Trumps headed into the convention. I don’t think Rubio would be their choice, but I can understand it if *he* thinks so.