GOP Endgame 2016: ¿Choque De Titanes Cubano? - Granite Grok

GOP Endgame 2016:
¿Choque De Titanes Cubano?

ClashOfCubanTitans-560With the GOPe gradually realizing that the thoroughly co-opted Rubio is likely to be their last man standing, and with Cruz slowly eclipsing Carson and gaining on Trump, are we setting the stage for a “Clash of the Cuban Titans”? NRO thinks so.

Grab some popcorn and I’ll explain my thinking….

With JEB falling and Kasich Flailing, and a bunch of also-rans bouncing along in the noise, the GOPe has picked very badly indeed. Walker, who might have straddled the divide was ignored by the Establishment, even as he hired a bunch of high rentStaffSurvey-StoryQuestionsNov4-3-e1446762673962 Establishment staffers who spent him into oblivion. Some GOPe honchos and donors clung desperately to JEB, while others (such as he who cannot read the electorate this cycle) inexplicably picked Kasich. This leaves Rubio and Christie as the last Establishment men standing, and the Capitol Hill tea leaves suggest Rubio will be their pick. (Click graphic to expand)

On the other side of the fence, Trump remains so far aloft that he must be wondering whether he could make a living marketing his antigravity device and a line of non-stick clothing! But it is in the mid-range of polling where all the upheaval is taking place: Carson’s self-evident naivete is bringing him back to earth; Cruz is winning over the conservatives and a lot of Evangelicals, even stealing some libertarians from Rand Paul; Fiorina is the enigma – she’s more of an outsider, even with her past efforts to support McCain and Romney once nominated, has great experience, and is a terrific debater, but no traction.

RCP-GOP-30day-Dec-4thThis graph tells the story (click-expand):

I believe that, the more the establishment money and support is drawn to Rubio as their last man standing, the more the TEA Party will shrink away from him and consolidate behind Cruz.

Cruz and Rubio are already beginning to battle it out, and that will only intensify as we move into the early primaries and Super Tuesday – if Trump ever loses altitude, it will, indeed, be the Clash of The [Cuban] Titans! Pass the popcorn!

>