What Republicans must do and must do NOW

[PeteB]

I have already issued a clarion call to my fellow Republicans on March 2, 2016, that in order to stop Trump, Rubio and Kasich must drop out of the race and support Cruz.

Given the events  of this past week, my words have been confirmed and have become even much more urgent.

Cruz is on the upswing, Rubio has totally collapsed, Kasich continues to live in a dream world.

Marco Rubio, swallow your pride, withdraw from the race, and endorse Cruz NOW.  The only thing that is going to happen with Rubio if he contests the primary in Florida is that he is going to be humiliated by the Republican voters in Florida by going down to an ignominious  defeat.  

John Kasich, think of the future of your party and the future of your country, you are not going to win Ohio.  Put the nation's interests above your own.  Withdraw from the race NOW and endorse Cruz NOW.

Jeb Bush, now that you have had time to fully realize you are not going to be the nominee, do the right thing and endorse Cruz NOW.  Follow your brother, Neil Bush's lead, and throw your support to Cruz NOW.

Carly Fiorina, thank you for taking this bold step of endorsing Cruz.

The rest should follow your courageous example.

Who's with me?    

    

  

I am not a fan of Cruz but, let me be his consultant and let's play your scenario out:

1. Rubio drops out now and endorses Cruz.  Hundreds of thousands of early ballots for Rubio are wasted and Cruz can't manage better than 35% there - end result Trump walks away with additional 99 delegates!

2. Kasich drops out and endorses Cruz.  Most of his supporters prefer Trump to Cruz and Trump wins Ohio - end result Trump gets 66 delegates

3. Combined effects of the recommendation - Trump gets 165 delegates (in addition to whatever else he may get) and pretty much wraps up the nomination!

4. Even though Cruz gets some delegates, he is playing Rick Santorum to Trump's Romney and the race is over for him.

In short, Cruz should absolutely pray that neither Kasich, nor Rubio leave and that at least one of them wins their state!

[PeteB]

I have already issued a clarion call to my fellow Republicans on March 2, 2016, that in order to stop Trump, Rubio and Kasich must drop out of the race and support Cruz.

Given the events  of this past week, my words have been confirmed and have become even much more urgent.

Cruz is on the upswing, Rubio has totally collapsed, Kasich continues to live in a dream world.

Marco Rubio, swallow your pride, withdraw from the race, and endorse Cruz NOW.  The only thing that is going to happen with Rubio if he contests the primary in Florida is that he is going to be humiliated by the Republican voters in Florida by going down to an ignominious  defeat.   

John Kasich, think of the future of your party and the future of your country, you are not going to win Ohio.  Put the nation's interests above your own.  Withdraw from the race NOW and endorse Cruz NOW.

Jeb Bush, now that you have had time to fully realize you are not going to be the nominee, do the right thing and endorse Cruz NOW.  Follow your brother, Neil Bush's lead, and throw your support to Cruz NOW.

Carly Fiorina, thank you for taking this bold step of endorsing Cruz.

The rest should follow your courageous example.

Who's with me?   

   

 

I am not a fan of Cruz but, let me be his consultant and let's play your scenario out:

1. Rubio drops out now and endorses Cruz.  Hundreds of thousands of early ballots for Rubio are wasted and Cruz can't manage better than 35% there - end result Trump walks away with additional 99 delegates!

2. Kasich drops out and emdorses Cruz.  Most of his supporters prefer Trump to Cruz and Trump wins Ohio - end result Trump gets 66 delegates

3. Combined effects of the recommendation - Trump gets 165 delegates (in addition to whatever else he may get) and pretty much wraps up the nomination!

4. Even though Cruz gets some delegates, he is playing Rick Santorum to Trump's Romney and the race is over for him.

In short, Cruz should absolutely pray that neither Kasich, nor Rubio leave and that at least one of them wins their state!

In regards to your points numbered 1 thru 3 :
Take into consideration that Florida and Ohio are winner-take-all states. The polls right now show trump with a comfortable lead in Florida and a small lead in Ohio. So it seems that he will win both states anyway, regardless if Rubio and Kasich are in or out before March 15.
So it's seems that we may have the same result in both of those two states (trump wins) in any case.

We very well may have the same result.  However, Kasich has a decent chance to capture OH (he has the strongest ground game by far there and he is only a few points behind Trump).  While it doesn't look likely, Rubio also has a minimal chance of winning FL (assuming all the stars align and all the polls are overestimating Trump's lead ).  Taking them out of the game now benefits only Trump, not Cruz!