The networks think of themselves as covering news not advancing America's political science culture. Their idea of news is the unexpected, man bites dog. So when a candidate fails or exceeds expectations by definition that is news.
From an earlier reply tonight:
Rubio is legitimately a big story because he beat expectations. Trump is a huge loser because he lost on expectations. Cruz is also a winner, not as large in the media's mind as Rubio, because he beat expectations. I have opposed Rubio from the beginning because of his stance on immigration, but I think we have to be fair to Fox. They are behaving as the media always behaves and one cannot ascribe their reaction to Rubio beating expectations as out of the norm.
By the way, compare Rubio's speech to Trump's halfhearted effort now on the Fox screen. Rubio is obviously light-years ahead of Trump in histrionic ability. Trump had really better watch out in New Hampshire, Rubio is a big threat to him now and I expect the Trump supporters to divert some of their venom away from Ted Cruz toward Marco Rubio.
