I find it highly unlikely that Rubio supports Trump for two reasons. Firstly, on a personal level, he almost certainly holds a grudge against Chris Christie and Donald Trump for what appears to be at least some wink-and-nod collaboration in torpedoing his chances at the nomination. Another reason is that Rubio, like the rest of the republican field, would rather keep the republican party intact, even if it means getting drubbed in the presidential race. The party survived Goldwater’s defeat in 1964, and it could survive this one. But a Trump nomination would rip the party in half - permanently. Trump would be a fatal disease. Rubio won’t contribute to that.
But, Reagan was charming and likeable and had a grandfatherly demeanor. Trump is none of those things. Trump is the media caricatures of him and seems to be proud of it. That might be good enough to fire up millions of small-minded angry white working-class males, but it repels everybody else. The public’s undivided attention is going to do anything but increase his support.
It will get very high ratings – because of clubs, not gavels.
Trump Supporter Still Planning On Rioting At National Convention Anyway.
More seriously, James Howard Kunstler predicts as of 05/09/16:
Attending the convention in Cleveland has lost its lustre for a lot of top GOP’ers: http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/11/politics/republican-delegates-back-out-donald-trump/index.html
Rick Perlstein mourns the spectacle that might have been, and reviews the colorful contested conventions of the past, from 1924 up through 1976. It’s a fascinating read.