Remember how the Republican establishment tried to claim Marco Rubio the winner of that one debate, and they all echoed the same theme incessantly even though no one believed it? Well, this is round two of their attempt to put lipstick on that pig. I’ll run the numbers later today, but Rubio basically consolidated the “establishment” candidate bucket. That was good for third place, but not good for expanding beyond that bucket. In other words, he’s maxed out.
The last two winners of the GOP Iowa caucuses: Rick Santorum (2012) and Mike Huckabee (2008). At this point, it’s clear that the Religious Right has hijacked Iowa. There are plenty of reasons for Democrats to ditch Iowa. This is a good argument for the Republican establishment to join the anti-Iowa bandwagon.
Iowa boosters claim they should stay first because Iowa voters take their task “seriously,” because as we know, giving us a no-decision on one side, and Ted Cruz on the other, is the textbook definition of “serious”.
Campaign field operatives can breathe a sigh of relief: Their work still matters. Donald Trump had them worried there for a while.