Posted on 02/02/2016 6:32:22 AM PST by bolobaby
I'm seeing a lot of questions about how Rubio got 23% of the vote in Iowa. The answer is surprisingly simple, although it is likely to inflame Trump supporters.
Trump has extremely high unfavorable ratings - possibly the highest of any presidential candidate since the metric began being measured. There are countless conservatives who simply *will not vote for him under any circumstances*. (Disclaimer: I am in this camp.)
Meanwhile, Trump supporters have been doing their best to discredit Cruz. Along with the establishment - who hates Cruz - it's a veritable piling-on. What the Trump supporters don't realize is that *attacking Cruz will not win Trump support*! Too many people will not vote for Trump, so if you discredit someone like Cruz, they start looking PAST Trump at the rest of the field. Who looks most palatable of the remaining candidates? Paul? Bush? Fiorina?
Why not Carson? Well, his debate performances were almost Stockdale-ish. OK, maybe that's too harsh. More like boring.
Meanwhile, Rubio did alright. So he looks like the next best choice.
Now, the people who will fall into this category are being swayed by specious attacks. They are unlikely to recognize that Rubio has been bought and sold by the GOPe - he's firmly in Boehner's and McConnell's pocket.
But there you have it.
Oops - I forgot to put (vanity) in the title - can you please fix?
The GOPe represents about 30% of the party. Rubio got 23% of it.
Rubio had high numbers as “2nd choice” going into Iowa. So, I’m not surprised he did so well.
Dondi, the surrogate Jeb and new darling of Fox News.
Good point.
Rubio was the big winner last night.
Cruz and Trump kill each other off state after state.
Rubio becomes the ‘he can win’ guy - just like Romney.
Fox news last night had a commentator call Rubio “He’s John F. Kennedy to Hillary’s Richard Nixon.”
All scripted.
The GopE is converging around Rubio.
The general election will have a fair percentage of illegal votes and chicanery that primary's never show
Let's talk THAT up, also
I almost never say this .... ROTFLMAO !
I had a strange thought about the left, Democrats know that Hillary & Bernie have no chance with all the baggage of the past 8 years of Obama against the outsider candidates. I think Democrats crossed over to vote for Rubio. Just like they got democrats to vote for Cochran in Mississippi.
They voted for the least harmful Republican to keep the political elite status quo in power. Rubio is that political elite class candidate. Rubio is woefully unprepared to be President and can not stand up against stronger politicians. He rates with Ryan, McConnell, Boehner et al as a Rino. Democrats also know that Conservatives won’t hold their nose this time and vote for Rubio. So there would be a chance for Hillary if the fix is in for her to be the nominee.
Really, it seems so obvious, doesn't it? The other thing is Rubio is likeable, articulate, passionate, and doesn't seem prone to dirty campaign manipulation. Is it my imagination, or have he and Trump reached a better place than they were as far as getting along is concerned?
That doesn't make sense.
“It’s Iowa”
End of explanation.
Agreed. The squishy Trump vote does not go to an establishment candidate. Cruz benefited from Trump’s stumbles.
I for one will NEVER VOTE FOR RUBIO or anyone else that promotes AMNESTY, regardless of how you dress it up.
Many many years ago I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS and got my Wife a Green Card, “THE LEGAL WAY”. She is a UK citizen and grew up in Austria. It cost me a Lot of Money and a Lot of Time, not to mention the unbelievable amount of paperwork,records,...
Can anyone here honestly tell me why I should VOTE for any Amnesty Pimp???
I don’t think that many dems crossed over. Their caucuses were rather energetic, either for or against Hillary.
And vise-versa, they will say.
You attacked my guy, I'm attacking your guy. ...ad nauseam.
No-one's mind is being moved by all the trash talk.
One third of the voters goes for the guy who the "evangelical" power brokers tell them is the next Moses.
Another third of the voters goes with the guy who the GOP establishment tells them to go with.
The remaining third of the voters is open to suggestions.
Anything else is minutiae.
Mr. niteowl77
Apparently you didn’t read my post at all.
You must have completely failed to read my post.
It’s not a “squishy Trump vote.” It’s the “will not vote for Trump under any circumstances” vote.
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