2016 Election

[Ryan Ruck]

Still haven't called Vermont with 56% of the votes in. Kasich is nipping on Trump's heels, lagging only like 2-3%. I perversely hope Kasich wins there. LOL!

Arkansas still not called yet either but Cruz is down 7%.

[Ryan Ruck]

Conservative Iowa radio host Steve Deace makes an interesting point:

The quiet big story tonight going forward is Oklahoma, because it's the first big delegate state that is a CLOSED PRIMARY. Meaning the waves of independent and Democrat cross-over voters that have elevated Trump so many other places are not available to him.

So only Republicans can vote and what happens? TRUMP LOSES, and he loses despite the fact Rubio still placed a strong third there further splintering the non-Trump vote.

Here's another reason that's big -- most of the contests going forward are also CLOSED CONTESTS. In fact, the Real Clear Politics polling average had Trump winning Oklahoma by 11 points, but Cruz won the state instead. In fact, so far tonight Trump is under-performing his polling in several states (like he was projected to win VA by 15 points and won by half that).

Conclusion: Trump can be beaten if the resources are spent to expose him, and Rubio's wing of the party unites behind Cruz in time to win more of these closed contests. Unless Rubio can beat Trump in Florida to help us, which is a big if looking at polling, an argument could be made Rubio doesn't serve a constructive purpose remaining in the race (pending tonight's final delegate count).

[Ryan Ruck]

Thanks Minnesota for giving Rubio a sliver of legitimacy. Guess that's to be expected from the only state that didn't vote for Reagan in '84, voted in Jessie Ventura, and voted in Al Franken.

[Malsua]

Maybe now the brain surgeon will figure out that he's not viable.

Rubio can head back to Florida and dance around in foam with a bunch of dudes.

It's almost impossible for Cruz, but things can change, so he's in it until the convention.

Now we can hope that Hillary gets indicted.

[Ryan Ruck]

If these other guys get out and pledge their delegates to Cruz it would be a much closer race.

Trump: 285
Cruz: 167
Rubio: 87
Kasich: 25
Carson: 8

Also, there are still a ton of delegates up for grabs (1,899 to be exact). Perfect example is California and right now, last I saw, Cruz is leading in California (go figure!). Unfortunately they aren't voting until June but we could possibly still be fighting it out until then.

[Ryan Ruck]

Also, Glenn Beck just mentioned on his show the count isn't finalized. There are still a number of delegates that haven't been assigned from last night.

In fact, from what they said, the NYT is projecting a mere 20 delegate spread between Trump and Cruz after the dust settles.

[Ryan Ruck]

Finally! Carson is out!

This is VERY good news for Ohio. Carson is, by far, the largest I see support for in the SW Ohio area. Now that he's out that will put a lot of votes in play for Cruz. And remember, Cruz is peoples' preferred #2 choice according to most polls.

Also, I have seen and heard ZERO people supporting Kasich.



One thing I've heard on the radio today is that with the field narrowing and Rubio still sucking away the most delegates from Cruz, Cruz should court Rubio for a VP slot.

This would give Cruz the delegates needed to beat Trump and help win votes from Florida.

I've seen some people saying, "I don't want a RINO like Rubio on the ticket!" However, I'm okay with this and here's why. The fact is the VP slot doesn't carry much weight so any policy ideas from Rubio can easily be dismissed by Cruz. Also, Rubio is not going to be going back to the Senate and has said he would otherwise go back to the private sector if his presidential run were unsuccessful. I'd guarantee though given his young age, he would still like a shot at the Oval Office, even if it meant waiting 8 years.

A secondary point, despite his amnesty talk, Rubio does get a 79% rating from Conservative Review. No Mike Lee or Rand Paul but a rating on par with Jeff Sessions and it does put him as the 7th most conservative in this Senate. So it isn't like bringing a Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, or John McCain to the ticket.

It is really win-win for both of them, otherwise Trump will win through attrition.

[Ryan Ruck]

Apparently the only person Lindsey Graham hates more than Ted Cruz is Donald Trump, to go from saying Cruz should be killed to saying he should be supported to stop Trump. LOL!

Lindsey Graham May Back Ted Cruz as ‘Only Way to Stop Donald Trump’

March 2, 2016

Senator Lindsey Graham, watching Donald J. Trump’s rise in Tuesday’s voting contests, now sees a colleague he reviles, Senator Ted Cruz, as the lesser of two evils to save the Republican Party.

“Ted Cruz is not my favorite by any means,” Mr. Graham told CBS News late Tuesday, as Mr. Trump was on course to win seven states. But he added, “We may be in a position where we have to rally around Ted Cruz as the only way to stop Donald Trump.”

For Mr. Graham, the South Carolina Republican who dropped out of the presidential race in December, the comment is a sea change. Mr. Cruz, the Texas senator, is far from beloved among most of his colleagues. Many of them still resent that he called the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, a “liar” in a speech on the Senate floor.

Mr. Graham has said, at least half jokingly, that if someone killed Mr. Cruz “on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you.” That sentiment has been part of why a number of Republicans have moved toward another senator, Marco Rubio of Florida, as their best option for defeating Mr. Trump.

But late Tuesday, Mr. Graham suggested that the situation has become so dire that, at this point, the party should get behind Mr. Cruz.

“I can’t believe I would say yes. But yes,” he told the interviewer Charlie Rose.

[Ryan Ruck]

Well, this last debate was pretty much a continuation of the last one minus Carson.

Rubio was cannon fodder getting down in the slop with Trump. Cruz brought substance like bringing up Trump's 4 campaign contributions to Hillary's last presidential campaign.

And Trump talked about his Vienna sausage like fingers and his junk.

[Malsua]

Uh oh...Boogergate.

[Ryan Ruck]

I know... Talk about focusing on substance.

Of course, when a certain candidate speaks at a 4th grade level what else can you expect from his supporters.

And on top of that it wasn't even a booger! It was likely a tonsil stone. I don't think anyone is exempt from those.

[Malsua]

>>I don't think anyone is exempt from those.<<

I am.

[Ryan Ruck]

No tonsils?

I don't have any either but still get them. It's just plaque buildup.

[Malsua]

No tonsils. Never had stones.

[Ryan Ruck]

Cruz has won the CPAC strawpoll and AP has just called the Kansas caucus for Cruz who is currently leading 51% to Trump's 24%, Rubio's 14.5%, and Kasich's 9% with 53% counted.

Right now Cruz is also leading Maine 48% to Trump's 25%, Rubio's 8.6%, and Kasich's 7.4% with just 7% of the results in. Maine is also a >50%, winner take all state. The polls close at 7pm CT.

[Ryan Ruck]

Results have started coming in from KY.

With 1% in, Cruz and Trump are essentially tied at 32% with Cruz ahead in votes currently. Kasich is 3rd at 18% Rubio at 4th with 16%.

[Ryan Ruck]

KY is up to 7% in and the results have changed up a bit.

Trump 40%, Cruz 34%, Rubio 14%, Kasich 11%

[Ryan Ruck]

KY now sits at 43% in with just a 6% spread between Trump and Cruz with it being 38%-32% respectively. FNC has not called it for Trump yet though.

Thanks Rubio and Kasich!

[Ryan Ruck]

Louisiana is being downright disappointing with 11% in and FNC calling it for Trump.

Trump 46%, Cruz 27%, Rubio 17%, Kasich 3.7%

More props to the two spoilers!

[Ryan Ruck]

KY has 88% in and FNC is calling it for Trump with just a 4% spread between he and Cruz at 35.5% to 31.4% respectively.