# Marco Rubio presidential campaign discussion thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 14, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685 "2015-04-14T21:41:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/321 "2016-02-23T17:57:41Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > What must _the GOP_ be going through … What _the rest of us_ are going through, given that whoever the GOP nominee is just might surprise us and win in November. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/322 "2016-02-23T18:01:11Z")
Interesting, Sam! So why does that anxiousness ping my radar so strongly, but not most observers’, I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/323 "2016-02-23T20:23:55Z")
That would explain why he tried to send hypno-rays through the TV to convince me that I didn’t see him reaching for a water bottle for a swig. The sheer mental force of that stare nearly caused me to blink! All glory to the Hypnotoad! ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/324 "2016-02-25T06:13:55Z")
If he fails to win one state on Super Tuesday, Marco Rubio should drop out. Take Ben Carson with him. If in that meantime Ted cruz were to win Texas and other states, Rubio can’t fairly call on Cruz to step out of the race and claim to be the “one to beat Trump” when he has lost all states to The Donald. No amount of endorsements will change that, no nominee has won by losing all four states and Super Tuesdays. Winning all florida delegates won’t help him. This Tuesday is the judgement call for Marco Rubio. If you can’t win a state, you are not nominee and have no right to call on John Kasich and especially Ted Cruz who has won a state, to drop out. The media should then stop branding him as the anti Trump candidate. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/325 "2016-02-25T06:20:50Z")
There will be one establishment candidate in until Trump clinches the nomination. No way Rubio leaves the field to Cruz and Trump, no matter how far behind he is, until someone else clinches. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/326 "2016-02-25T13:31:22Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > The media should then stop branding him as the anti Trump candidate. Well he’d be the anti Trump in that he wouldn’t be a Winner! ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/327 "2016-02-25T16:01:55Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > There will be one establishment candidate in until Trump clinches the nomination. No way Rubio leaves the field to Cruz and Trump, no matter how far behind he is, until someone else clinches. If he fails to win a state by March 1 while Ted a cruz wins one or more states, Rubio would look a fool to say he is the one establishment man. He has to cede if he fails on March 1, if Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are winning then hey are GOP frontrunners. Republicans will look like fools if they keep rallying around a loser like Rubio. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/328 "2016-02-25T16:42:27Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > Republicans will look like fools if they keep rallying around a loser like Rubio. That prospect has never been an obstacle in the past, why would it now? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/329 "2016-02-25T21:28:04Z")
The House Freedom Caucus, which is the name for the Tea Party members, has sent a letter to Cruz and Rubio asking one of them to drop out and throw his support to the other, to stop Trump. Because, among other reasons, and I’m not making this up, Trump won’t be hard enough on Muslims. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/330 "2016-02-25T21:45:32Z")
Wha?? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/331 "2016-02-25T21:55:13Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The House Freedom Caucus, which is the name for the Tea Party members, has sent a letter to Cruz and Rubio asking one of them to drop out and throw his support to the other, to stop Trump. Because, among other reasons, and I’m not making this up, Trump won’t be hard enough on Muslims. I see a couple articles about Trent Franks (not the whole caucus) calling for this, but I don’t see anything about Trump being too soft on Muslims. Do you have a cite? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/332 "2016-02-25T21:59:27Z")
One member of the House Freedom Caucus is circulating a letter looking for signatures. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/333 "2016-02-25T22:00:06Z")
[From the letter in question:](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trent-franks-rubio-cruz-drop-out_us_56ce57cde4b0bf0dab30ce42) > [@](#): > > Mr. Trump purports to stand tough against Islamism. Yet he says he will be “neutral” between Israel and the Palestinians, even though the Palestinian rejection of Israel is based on the Islamist view that any territory that was ever occupied by Muslims belongs to Muslims forever. Amid the rise of ISIS across the Levant, Mr. Trump’s apparent eagerness to hand over part of Jerusalem to the Palestinians will inexorably put the Holy City in the hands of the same people Mr. Trump wants to keep out of this country. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/334 "2016-02-25T22:08:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [From the letter in question:](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trent-franks-rubio-cruz-drop-out_us_56ce57cde4b0bf0dab30ce42) Thanks. I didn’t find that story when I scanned Google News. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/335 "2016-02-25T22:08:46Z")
Haha. Wants to be neutral=eagerness to hand over part of Jerusalem. I’m surprised Obama hasn’t already handed over part of Jerusalem. What’s he waiting for? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/336 "2016-02-25T22:57:25Z")
Yea, of all the possible attacks on Trump, they seem to have somehow stumbled upon the least plausible. I’m not as down as others on Rubio’s chances of pulling off a win for the GOP nomination. But the fact that this late in the game, with a target as easy as Trump, that he still can’t seem to find a way to attack him, doesn’t exactly fill one with confidence. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/337 "2016-02-26T02:39:51Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > If he fails to win a state by March 1 while Ted a cruz wins one or more states, Rubio would look a fool to say he is the one establishment man. He has to cede if he fails on March 1, if Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are winning then hey are GOP frontrunners. Republicans will look like fools if they keep rallying around a loser like Rubio. Republicans can’t stand either Cruz or Trump. As long as neither has the delegates, Rubio stays in in the hopes of a brokered convention. It will not come down to Cruz vs. Trump. You can bank on that. It’s either Trump vs Rubio in the endgame, or the field just fails to winnow enough before Trump clinches. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/338 "2016-02-26T19:47:31Z")
[Bryan Fischer guest expects Rubio will be endorsed by the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, Hamas and ISIS.](http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/jan-morgan-expects-rubio-soon-announce-endorsements-hamas-and-isis) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/339 "2016-02-26T20:01:04Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [Bryan Fischer guest expects Rubio will be endorsed by the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, Hamas and ISIS.](http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/jan-morgan-expects-rubio-soon-announce-endorsements-hamas-and-isis) You know, women aren’t in a lot of positions of political power in the US, but you have to give us props for churning out some prime crazy with what we’ve got. Sure, for sheer numbers, we can’t compete with the big boys, but our _rate_ of nuttiness is unparalleled! ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685/340 "2016-02-26T20:13:37Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Republicans can’t stand either Cruz or Trump. As long as neither has the delegates, Rubio stays in in the hopes of a brokered convention. > > It will not come down to Cruz vs. Trump. You can bank on that. It’s either Trump vs Rubio in the endgame, or the field just fails to winnow enough before Trump clinches. Unless something changes dramatically between now and Tuesday it’s likely to be GAME OVER by Wednesday morning. Assuming Trump wins as widely as expected the math pretty much won’t even work for a brokered convention. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marco-rubio-presidential-campaign-discussion-thread/717685.md?page=18)