Rick Santorum quits–why Rubio benefits & not Cruz

Rick Santorum quits–why Rubio benefits & not Cruz February 4, 2016

Rick Santorum, who won the Iowa caucuses last time in 2012, has dropped out of the Republican presidency race.  Prediction:  As candidates drop out, they will endorse Rubio.  UPDATE:  I was right!  Santorum endorsed Rubio.  As there are fewer and fewer candidates vying for the mainstream Republican vote, they will coalesce around Rubio, and Trump’s 40% will become a minority.

Why won’t Cruz pick up some of these endorsements?  He is apparently just unlikable.  In the Senate, he can’t even get a member of his own party to second his motions.  When asked about this at the last debate, he framed it as, “see, I’m not some politician.”  But you have to be able to work with people if you want to be president and get anything done.  Interestingly, evangelicals are reportedly becoming down on him for what seems to be a dirty trick he played against Ben Carson, putting out the rumor just before the Iowa caucus that he was dropping out of the race and that his supporters should go with Cruz instead.  Carson is rightfully complaining (saying “by their fruit you shall know them”) and Trump, who thinks a shift from Carson to Cruz cost him the victory, is threatening a lawsuit.

 

From Rick Santorum dropping presidential bid – CNNPolitics.com:

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is ending his presidential bid, two Republican sources told CNN.

He is expected to make the announcement Wednesday night and will endorse a candidate.

Santorum won the 2012 Iowa caucuses and ended that race with the second-most number of delegates to eventually GOP nominee Mitt Romney. But he was unable to capture any momentum this year, despite extensive barnstorming efforts in Iowa.

He is the third Republican presidential candidate to drop out after Monday’s caucuses. Mike Huckabee ended his campaign that night, and Rand Paul suspended his campaign Wednesday morning.

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