It’s time, Marco.
Right now I am sure you are celebrating your impressive win in Puerto Rico, picking up all 23 delegates in the US territory, but it’s not enough. Even with those delegates you still came in third over the weekend, far behind Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. While Cruz gained ground on Donald Trump, you lost ground to both of them. You failed to meet the minimum threshold to share in the at-large delegates in both Maine and Louisiana. You have half as many delegates as Ted Cruz. Even if you won Florida, where you are losing in the polls, you still wouldn’t catch Ted.
You previously criticized Ted Cruz for not winning the south where you say his strength was, and that the map would soon shift in your favor, but we have now seen Ted Cruz win 6 states in the South (Texas), in the North (Maine), in the Midwest (Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma), and in the West (Alaska). The upcoming map has many more Midwestern and Western states that are far more receptive to the kind of grassroots, fed up with Washington, conservative message that Ted Cruz is offering.
But there is more going on here than just your lack of delegates. The voting this weekend showed a distinctive shift. Previous contests had Donald Trump in a solid first place with you and Ted Cruz essentially tied for second. Now we are seeing Ted Cruz win some states overwhelmingly, or essentially tied with Donald Trump for first place, while you are a distant third (or even fourth). Those results make three important points:
1.) We have a clear indication where a majority of Ben Carson’s supporters are going. They have switched to Cruz.
2.) Your “Mini-Trump” routine was not a winning strategy. In getting down in the mud with Trump, you have done more to tarnish your own name than to bring Trump down.
3.) The voters are making it clear that they want a real alternative to Donald Trump, and they have decided it is not you.
Now you have a real choice to make. Let’s call it “Marco’s Moment of Truth.” You can stay in the race and fight it out to the bitter end, or you can leave the race now and give Ted Cruz a real chance to become the Republican nominee.
If you stay in the race, you are going to lose Florida and hand those 99 delegates to Donald Trump. You are losing Florida in the polls, Jeb Bush still hasn’t endorsed you, and the sitting Republican Governor of Florida has said he is not endorsing anyone in the race. What does that tell you about your chances?
If you stay in the race, you will continue to steal a portion of the conservative vote away from Ted Cruz, giving more states to Donald Trump. You will guarantee that Trump wins the 1237 delegates he needs to win the nomination, where he will lose to Hillary Clinton in November. Without you in the race, Ted Cruz would have won South Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and he would have taken over 50% of the vote and all of Texas’ 155 delegates. With you in the race, there is no real chance for the anti-Trump vote to coalesce around one candidate.
If you leave the race now, you may not hand Florida to Ted Cruz, but you will help him in many other states. Without you in the race, Cruz could win Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, and Mississippi on March 8th. He could win Missouri, North Carolina, and Illinois on March 15th. You could even help him win Ohio. The latest polls in Ohio show Ted Cruz only down 10% to Trump, and this was before Ben Carson dropped out and before the significant shift in the electorate this weekend. Ohio is in play and you could tip the scales, knocking out John Kasich in the process and making the race a true two-man race.
If you stay in the race, especially after you lose Florida on the 15th, it will mean only one thing. You are hoping for the establishment to hand you the nomination in a brokered convention. If that happened, it would spell doom for our party. Donald Trump would immediately launch an Independent bid. The grass-roots would abandon you as they watch the two outsider candidates who won a vast majority of the delegates between them shunted aside for the hand-picked candidate of the moneyed special-interests. That may not be a fair characterization of your campaign, but that’s what people would see.
You would lose and lose badly.
The best chance we have as a party right now is to beat Donald Trump at the ballot box. We need a candidate who can secure the 1237 delegates needed to win on the first ballot in Cleveland. We need a candidate that Trump supporters could feel comfortable supporting and bring them back into the fold.
That candidate is not you, Marco.
You have an important choice to make, Marco, and you need to make it quickly. Your party is counting on you. The country is counting on you.
What will you do?
27 comments
Rubio should drop out now if he wants to run for president again in the future. He’s only 45 and has plenty of time…I think losing Florida will be a permanent blemish on his record. He needs to go back to the Senate and SHOW UP TO VOTE! He also needs to stop taking money from people who tell him how to think.
This is his last term if he doesn’t become President(he won’t) or VP(more likely).
I think, if he stubbornly refuses to become VP, that he’ll go back to Florida and try and run for Governor. Make another try for President in a few years.
However, that gets shot in the foot if he loses Florida. Marco needs to join forces with Cruz if he wants to have a political future.
Joseph , I do not want Rubio in any form.
I have read Cruz’s Illegal immigration ploicy and starting to raise my eye a little .
I wish that he would speak of the Employee Misclassification Act { EMPA } HR 5107 , I liked the monetary penalites , wish they were larger though knowing what I know and how it cost the working class families .
The GAO estimated that it cost the Federal Goverment 2.72 Billion .
From what I tell you it could be much more.
In Cruz’s policy he pledges to work with States { GREAT!!!!! }.
Now for Trump he secured approx. 500 visas { legal } yet in Florida Emp. Mis. is est. loss to be an excess of 400 million. This is a problem that drives legal employers out of bussiness , leaving a void of legal contractors.
We do have to come together to end this this is a National issue.
Right now in my area we have a major lumber company selling ” turn key ” construction to licensed contractors using a Winchester Licensed Contractor to filter illegal alien unlicensed contractors through their company. This company has no employees therefore they are not subject to audits performed under the Va. Employment Compensation Act { illegal labor laundering }.
I am still and will remain very disgusted with our state republicans for not combating illegal immigration through illegal employment.
Still remember E-Verify will not cover all tiered contracting or employment.
Heard a VERY GOOD story on Cruz today , if true this needs to get out , i’m still researching it.
Rubio is the Republican polished trailer hitch carrying illegal aliens.
Cruz or Trump are the only ones for my family.
You’re considering Cruz then? Good, I’m glad.
The reason why I believe that Cruz/Rubio would be a good pairing is the reason I believe that Rubio voted for the Gang of 8: he’s malleable. Give him a stronger Conservative to guide him and he’ll be shaped into being a good candidate on ALL the issues. As it is, he’s badly flawed. But give him 8 years with President Cruz to guide him? And I think you’ll have no complaints with him.
Rubio as is? Nope. Rubio as he could be with some heavy tutoring? Yes.
Illegal immigration actually isn’t a big issue in this election. They did a check in SC and found that something like 10% found it to be the biggest issue, and of those 10% more than 50% were in favor of something that would allow illegals to stay here. Meaning a little less than 5% view it as especially important in terms of punishing illegal immigration.
Yes, illegal immigration my not be an issue to some.
I look at illegal immigration as a broader issue. Some counterproductive effects of illegal immigration economic , national security,debt { states and national }.
I am a good builder and build many homes for people of all walks of life, law enforcement included .
We do know that MS-13 makes it’s way into our communities through illegal construction , this is where we need to be proactive and install prophylactic measures as to protect our communities and our legal right to work jobs.
I wish people would broaden their thoughts of it’s effects, take every State Dept. look at them and ask how does this effect this Dept..
Taxation
Dept of Commerce
Dept of Labor and Industry
The Dept of Child Enforcement Services , ect.
Back to law enforcement search on what it has brought to deep Southwest VA.
We used to just worry about the sorry a_ _ white methheads , it is way worse now , a completly different animal.
And we all know about the present and previous administration in pandering.
To be in MS-13 don’t you have to kill someone ?
They are in the new subdivisions in VA while you are at work.
I am on the ” front lines ” of this issue daily , the general public does not see what I see , now change the player from central american to middle eastern ,
they will find these existing loopholes if they already haven’t discovered them now.
Polls and complictiy stink !
Illegal immigration is what started Trumps support , when SC came along issues just broadened at that point came the attacks is Paris and Calif.
A little more thought and intellect by elected officals will only close loopholes and provide security to our civilized society.
Illegal immigration is economic terrorism.
Based on the SC’s information, illegal immigration isn’t a very serious issue to most of the electorate.
That’s not entirely accurate, that Trump took off because of immigration. Trump’s campaign began from the attention his comments about illegal immigration received. It wasn’t the issue, it was the way he talked about it. Cruz had been suggesting building the wall for months before Trump did. Trump’s outlandish rhetoric about Mexico paying for the wall and Mexicans being rapists spotlighted him as being someone the media was going to talk about.
He’s actually the media favorite, in time spent covering him and time spent talking with him. He gets 3X the exposure and time of other candidates. That, and his statements about PP and the KKK, are why a lot of Republicans don’t like him. The media is never this fawning to a Republican candidate unless they know he’ll be easily defeated in the general.
The KKK thing got blown up , easy pickins. Look at what he said about the flag , heck it was even used against him in robo calls by Cruz supporter packs.
You know I am different and have a legimate issue that has 2.7 Billion to the Fed. { i expect more } and 28 Million to Va’s General fund { I again expect more } .
And I want employer enforcement or it will all be for nothing .
My family and I have lost a great deal due to the complicity of the issue.
Will this illegal employment extend into Fed and State infrastructure rebuilding?
That is where America will once again be shafted.
Thanks Joseph.
David Duke told his folks to work for Trump. That’s sticking. And Trump, who branded everybody with insulting names, Mexicans, Cruz, Rubio, Carson, said he’d have to research Duke, who he already knew about, and the KKK before he made a judgment about them. After freely branding a man like Carson a pedophile, he has to research the KKK before he can decide on if he wants their support? I don’t think so.
Easy pickings? No. Serious issue? Yes. It’s part of why I won’t support Trump, that and PP.
Yes, I know that your issues are legitimate. I think that you’ll have to look for the problems to be solved locally however.
Duke sais support Trump . Trump never said support Duke. Trump was the first to say remove the flag in SC and Cruz supporters used it against him.
No, EMPL. Mis. is a National issue which Repub lican fail to address , run from. A 2.7 billion National issue , locally Dems { McAuliffe } are once again the only ones publically stepping up to the plate .
I will make you a deal , I will support any R nominee , 2016 Presidential and all in Va 2017 ADG , Lt Gov. and Gov. , just tell me the state Republican that want to combat this issue through the GAO mandated Employee Misclassification Legislation Legislation.
Who is the Va. Republican ? , or is it just the Va. AFLCIO and McAuliffe who are protecting ” legal ” Right to Work Jobs in Va.
Northrom looks good in 2017 unless there is a Republican up for the challenge , not the exploitation.
Nope, doesn’t work. The KKK is still supporting Trump, and Trump? Trump said he had to research the KKK to decide if he wanted their support or not. The KKK, he had to research the KKK and David Duke. I should add that he already knew about Duke as he had commented on him before this.
The fact that Trump had to consider the KKK? And that the KKK is still supporting him? Big issues, that and PP are why Republicans are saying no way to Trump in large numbers. According to the latest polling, over 50% of Republicans are more supportive of #NeverTrump with somewhere around 25% supporting him.
So, to clarify the terms of this, if I can prove a state Republican that is opposing the Employee Misclassification problem, you’ll vote Republican this year and next year? Somewhat in your favor if Trump is the nominee but I’ll take what I can get for 2017.
Okay, do you want someone who is actively opposing the GAO mandated Employee Misclassification Legislation or supporting it? Just so I know which position I’m searching for.
I want to know the Republican supporting the Employee Misclassification Legislation and that may honsetly see it’s loophooles and it’s detrimential effects. There is much to combat and ” piggy back ” in this issue , I’m sure that you understand . How about the Senator Bryce Reeves running for Lt. Governor seems like the man , as I said Va. Depts. have been tested to what they should detect and with his previous law enforcement experience and current profession insurance he may be up to speed on the fact that it cost the insurance industry through lost insurance premiums and claims.
I know Republicans oppose this , but he may possibly be above the frey and willing to be truly comprehensive in this legislation . To validate this read comments by VWC Commissioner Comments in JLARC 427 . I will forget the 2016 election for this , by now you are starting see how costly this is to Virginia.
I know Obenshain is way behind Herring and ” lawyers ” are reluctent to look at all I hold .
Some agencies that should detect this there is more to do than make sure that their time card are filled out properly , bureacrats are reluctant.
1 Dept. of Commerce / DPOR
2 Dept. of Taxation
3 Va. Workers Compensation Commission
4 Dept of Child Enforcement Services
5 And the VEC is grossly negligent
Who will Republicans run for Governor in 2017 ? This will be the Governor to sign this legislation.
Will they sell Va. down the road ?
Previous actions say yes , but there has to be at least one honest Representative on this .
Herring was here Wednesday , I bet he was at our local Dept. of Labor and Industry also. There is local action here.
Righto, I’ve got a feeler out. Give me a couple of days to gather the information.
Thanks,
We do have an incredible oppurtunity to address a few issues with this legislation. The revenue factor usually awakens people up.
One could ask about Kasich’s moment of truth, too! 😉
That will come when he loses Ohio. Kasich has said publicly if he loses Ohio he will drop out as there is no more point for him to continue. Rubio has made no such statement. He is letting people believe he will stay in whether he wins Florida or not.
I would be a shame to have no choice but to vote democrat this year simply to keep Trump from seizing power
If it’s is Trump, I’m not going to vote in the Presidential at all, or I’m voting third party.
Kasich also described Michigan as a must win. He was third. He’s still running.
It might make sense for Rubio to stay in through 3/8 to help deprive Trump of 50% in Michigan, but he needs to call it a campaign when those returns are in. Note, though, that it’s not enough for Rubio to drop out, he needs to unite with Cruz. If Rubio’s support defects to Kasich, who seems not to care about anything but his own candidacy, it doesn’t really help. #Crubio2016
Crubio would be fabulous. I could also do Truz.
Maybe I could live with Crump, but not Truz. 🙂
At this point, I just want to win, without a brokered convention. Trump DOES bring a lot of not-your-usual-republicans to the table. In a Truz administration, Cruz wouldn’t just sit on the Senate floor and break tie votes. He’d be involved. Then Cruz for pres in 2020.
I will never vote for Trump for president, ever. #NeverTrump
Likewise! #NeverTrump
Cruz won’t do that. He’s already said he’s not running to be anybody’s VP.
Yeah….they’re ALL saying that now.
Cruz has been saying that for awhile. He’s not going to change his mind and work with a man who he knows doesn’t respect him and who will not listen to his advice.
It’s not happening. Cruz becoming VP would legitimize Trump, and Cruz knows that.