How does Rubio place in New Hampshire after his debilitating gaffe?

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Bush, Christie, Cruz, and Kasich all have a very real shot of surpassing this exposed lightweight now.

[Xing]

I'll say 4th, for now. Obviously Trump will beat him, and I'm guessing so do Cruz and either Kasich or Christie.

[Maxwell]

Not 1st or 2nd. That enough is devastating. My prediction is 6th place, right behind Ted Cruz.

[trickmind]

I'm thinking 4th for now, but the more I think about it, so much of his candidacy is propelled by the positive media coverage he gets, especially after his "strong" finish in Iowa. When the media shreds him the next couple of days for his crapsack debate performance, much worse is definitely possible.

[JonathanSwift]

Fifth, behind Trump, Kasich, Cruz and Bush.

[Higgs]

2nd

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

2nd

Did you not watch the debate?

[The Other Castro]

I'm thinking this is going to be one big 5-way tie for 2nd.

[Higgs]

2nd

Did you not watch the debate?

Do you not understand that these debates have had little to no effect on the race in 2016?

[Lord of the Dome]

2nd

Did you not watch the debate?

Do you not understand that these debates have had little to no effect on the race in 2016?

Yeah and frankly Atlas (surprise, surprise) is blowing this way out of proportion. If anything this'll just hamper his legitimate shot at winning NH and leave him in a still reasonably solid second.

[Higgs]

2nd

Did you not watch the debate?

Do you not understand that these debates have had little to no effect on the race in 2016?

Yeah and frankly Atlas (surprise, surprise) is blowing this way out of proportion. If anything this'll just hamper his legitimate shot at winning NH and leave him in a still reasonably solid second.

Yeah it was a bit of a longshot in the first place for him to win New Hampshire. If he scores second or even third behind Cruz he'll still be in and I would think still has a decent shot at the nomination. Seriously tho, Atlas is way overestimating the effect of this.

[Maxwell]

To me - There is no way to spin 3rd as a win for him again. There aren't two overwhelming juggernauts in New Hampshire as there was in Iowa, only one. If Rubio doesn't get 2nd it's a disaster for his campaign.

[IceSpear]

To me - There is no way to spin 3rd as a win for him again. There aren't two overwhelming juggernauts in New Hampshire as there was in Iowa, only one. If Rubio doesn't get 2nd it's a disaster for his campaign.

Oh, there's no way he could spin 3rd as a win for him, no doubt. But if the top 2 is Trump and Cruz, well...that doesn't leave the establishment with many options. They'll probably keep his campaign on life support.

If an establishment guy finishes ahead of him, I agree he's finished.

[Higgs]

To me - There is no way to spin 3rd as a win for him again. There aren't two overwhelming juggernauts in New Hampshire as there was in Iowa, only one. If Rubio doesn't get 2nd it's a disaster for his campaign.

Look at the long haul. If Rubio places 3rd in New Hampshire behind Trump and Cruz then it's pretty much a sure thing that the other establishment candidates drop out. Christie and Kasich have no chance outside of New Hampshire so I can't imagine them staying in. Maybe Bush stays in until South Carolina but if there's another poor performance there then he's out. If the rest of the establishment guys drop out then Rubio picks up a sh*t ton of support. There is still a significant part of the GOP that does not want Cruz or Trump and doesn't care about this "horrible debate gaffe" that Rubio has made. If Rubio is winning the nomination it isn't from a blowout win in New Hampshire or South Carolina. A Rubio win would come from a lengthy primary fought out until maybe the convention.

[Maxwell]

To me - There is no way to spin 3rd as a win for him again. There aren't two overwhelming juggernauts in New Hampshire as there was in Iowa, only one. If Rubio doesn't get 2nd it's a disaster for his campaign.

Look at the long haul. If Rubio places 3rd then it's pretty much a sure thing that the other establishment candidates drop out. Christie and Kasich have no chance outside of New Hampshire so I can't imagine them staying in. Maybe Bush stays in until South Carolina but if there's another poor performance there then he's out. If the rest of the establishment guys drop out then Rubio picks up a sh*t ton of support. There is still a significant part of the GOP that does not want Cruz or Trump and doesn't care about this "horrible debate gaffe" that Rubio has made. If Rubio is winning the nomination it isn't from a blowout win in New Hampshire or South Carolina. A Rubio win would come from a lengthy primary fought out until maybe the convention.

I don't think Christie or Kasich drop out if either of them get 2nd place in the state. That alone means establishment dollars will split between them and Rubio because, while Rubio may or may not be better positioned, the donors (who actually watched the debate, clapped for Christie and booed Rubio) will not be donating to Rubio in the hand over fist fashion that Rubio needs. And if he gets his clock completely cleaned in the SEC primaries, I really don't see where he has to go next.

[trickmind]

Look at the long haul. If Rubio places 3rd then it's pretty much a sure thing that the other establishment candidates drop out.

Says who? The primary referee?

After his pitiful performance tonight, Bush (especially) and probably Christie think there is no way in hell that Rubio is going to last the distance. All it did is confirm their suspicions in their own mind that he is a lightweight and only they can beat Trump/Cruz.

He had a chance to seal the deal (among the establishment at least) tonight and he choked.

[Higgs]

To me - There is no way to spin 3rd as a win for him again. There aren't two overwhelming juggernauts in New Hampshire as there was in Iowa, only one. If Rubio doesn't get 2nd it's a disaster for his campaign.

Look at the long haul. If Rubio places 3rd then it's pretty much a sure thing that the other establishment candidates drop out. Christie and Kasich have no chance outside of New Hampshire so I can't imagine them staying in. Maybe Bush stays in until South Carolina but if there's another poor performance there then he's out. If the rest of the establishment guys drop out then Rubio picks up a sh*t ton of support. There is still a significant part of the GOP that does not want Cruz or Trump and doesn't care about this "horrible debate gaffe" that Rubio has made. If Rubio is winning the nomination it isn't from a blowout win in New Hampshire or South Carolina. A Rubio win would come from a lengthy primary fought out until maybe the convention.

I don't think Christie or Kasich drop out if either of them get 2nd place in the state. That alone means establishment dollars will split between them and Rubio because, while Rubio may or may not be better positioned, the donors (who actually watched the debate, clapped for Christie and booed Rubio) will not be donating to Rubio in the hand over fist fashion that Rubio needs. And if he gets his clock completely cleaned in the SEC primaries, I really don't see where he has to go next.

If Christie or Kasich place 2nd then I see your point, but I just don't see that happening. If anybody other than Rubio is placing second it's Cruz.

[bigedlb]

Trump, Cruz, Christie, Kasich, Rubio in that order

[BM]

4th or lower would be absolutely hilarious and really deflate his campaign just as it was supposedly gaining momentum. What a pathetic flop he turned out to be LITERALLY the second the spotlight was on him.

Why this low IQ himbo bothered running is beyond me, but he's clearly delusional.

[This account no longer in use.]

Fifth. Trump gets first, Christie gets second, Cruz gets third, wacky wavy inflatable arm flailing tube man gets fourth.