Why is everybody burying Rubio after a single debate performance?

[Joe Biden 2020]

Remember, he came in a very strong third in Iowa and could very well surprise in New Hampshire.  Do they just not like his conservatism and hope that he crashes and burns or do they really think he is toast after a single debate?

[Joe Biden 2020]

Personally, I don't think he's dead yet. But that gaffe is probably one of the worst I've ever seen. It was timed horribly, and although we won't know until Tuesday I think it's probably axed his momentum, and whatever chances he had of winning NH.

To be fair, he never really had any chance of winning New Hampshire even after his strong showing in Iowa and before that gaffe.  He was always looking at second or third at best.  As some of the pundits have been saying there may be as many as 4 tickets out of New Hampshire and as long as he secures one of those spots, he should have plenty of momentum heading into South Carolina and Nevada and at least Super Tuesday.  I personally still think he stays in all the way through March 15.

[Joe Biden 2020]

It happened to Perry....so.....

Yeah, but Perry was a joke candidate to begin with.  Rubio has always been a serious contender.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Atlas.

Figures

[Joe Biden 2020]

Because this debate is so crucial - because it is the place where Rubio had to prove he was the definitive establishment candidate.

Atlas is not the judge of that, though, and neither is the MSM.  The voters on Tuesday will be the judge whether he failed at his job.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Yea, it has everything to do with victimizing poor, innocent conservatives and nothing to do with his inability to gain traction as the challenger to Trump and his god-awful debate performance where he seemed like a petulant child.

Brilliant analysis, as always.

I was joking...

[Joe Biden 2020]

I will say that I never expected Rubio to win the nomination, even though I will be voting for him on Super Tuesday should he make it this far.  It will either be Trump or Cruz, IMO.  The strong third place showing in Iowa did not change that for me other than he is not going to bow out anytime soon.  I believe he can recover from the debate gaffe and we'll have to see how well New Hampshire forgives him.  The thing with the American electorate, by and large we have very short attention spans and very short memories.  I think if he can survive New Hampshire, this gaffe won't even be on the minds of South Carolina or Nevada voters unless he compounds his error in judgment with another gaffe.  He really has to watch himself at the next debate, but if he can get at least a respectable third place showing out of New Hampshire, I think he'll be in good shape through at least Super Tuesday and this gaffe will largely be forgotten in the media and the minds of the electorate.