If Trump wins Iowa...

[trickmind]

Cruz needs 2nd in Iowa, preferably a strong one to be able to stay in the hunt. Luckily for him that much awaited 'Marcomentem' doesn't look to be happening so he'll come out of Iowa wounded but not dead. I think he would need a strong performance in NH, probably taking 2nd while the establishment eats themselves alive to have a chance to mount a comeback in SC, which isn't out of the cards imo but growing more unlikely.

On the establishment side...I think if Trump wins Iowa and NH it's going to be tough to get back into it. If it is true that the establishment came out so hard against Cruz in IA to get a more favorable candidate maneuvered it was a bad error imo. Cruz would have been an easier person to beat in a 1-on-1 than Trump. Their best bet to me was Cruz beating Trump in IA, and an establishment candidate either winning or putting a strong performance in NH. Now that appears to be out of the cards.

I've always thought that Rubio will ultimately not be the right man to take back the party from Trump and Cruz if it is possible. He reminds all GOP voters of Barack Obama, a boyish young senator when they're looking for a hard man like Richard Nixon in these "bad times". Christie is their only shot from my perspective, and it's a pretty slim shot at that.