Posted on 02/17/2016 8:09:56 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Ted Cruz's campaign is trying to make the most of Gov. Nikki Haley's endorsement of Marco Rubio days ahead of the South Carolina primary: driving sky-high his political expectations here.
"If he doesn't finish first, this is a massive loss," Jason Miller, a senior Cruz adviser, said hours after news reports began circulating that Haley would endorse Rubio at a rally Wednesday evening. "Rubio has to win here."
Earlier this week, Jeb Bush had called Haley's endorsement "the most powerful, meaningful one in the state." Haley's backing of Rubio comes on top of the support of Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. Trey Gowdy, who cut a new radio ad for Rubio on Wednesday.
"He has the very popular sitting governor, very popular junior senator, very popular upstate congressman. He has every favorable position going for him that he could ever hope to have," Miller said of Rubio. "If Rubio can't win here, under these favorable circumstances, where can he win?"
Current polls show Rubio and Cruz battling each other for second place far behind South Carolina front-runner Donald Trump....
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
The bad thing for Rubio is he is gasping for money at this point, so he can’t sandbag his own chances.
If he comes in third here, he will have a third, fifth, and third place finish... how can he tell potential big time donors “yeah, we don’t expect to end up higher than third.”
I think he will come in third and will limp onto Super Tuesday, but if he loses to Bush, he is dead in the water.
I think they’re right in that assessment.
I’m no Rubio fan, but this is just an attempt to move Rubio’s goalposts for him, and seems pretty desperate. I mean, basically he’s saying if Rubio comes in second and beats Cruz, Cruz did awesome. That’s pretty ridiculous.
Rubio can contribute, but not imho as OIC.
Worlds a tough place of late
Well, keep giving me money so I can run for Vice President.
Cruz and Rubio are in the same predicament, the money is on the winning horse, not the ones that place and show.
Buh-bye Mario.
If Rubio finishes ahead of Cruz there I’ll send you a gift card.
Watching the CNN Townhall. Anderson did a good job as did the audience.
Cruz by a mile. Details. Substance. Thoughtful answers.
By A Mile.
He’s not running for reelection. On to K Street.
She is an idiot. I expect her to lose next time. I am very unimpressed.
Hey 2DV - what do you think Haley’s endorsement was worth? Seriously.
Ted has money to spare. Try to keep up.
This is the sort of "honest spin" I can live with. The Cruz team can try to pump up expectations about Rubio while he himself down plays expectations, and the other camps will do the same about Cruz. It's all about positioning and momentum for the next contest.
It is smart for the Cruz team, because otherwise, all they can say is something like "well, we got Genn Beck's endorsement" ... just kidding, and throwing the Trump supporters a humorous bone.
FReegards.
About the same as Branstad’s anti-endorsement in Iowa.
Heh, we can keep it to a gentleman’s agreement over bragging rights, but you’re on. I don’t think Cruz campaign people would say that if Rubio doesn’t WIN (as in place first) then he has lost massively, unless there’s some kind of writing on the wall already. Perhaps not many fish are biting on the “epic ground game” front, or something else that they know hasn’t worked out, but this seems like they’re setting up expectations for Ted that don’t involve Ted coming in second place.
but if Rubio finishes third.... this is a great move
A cup of curried sag paneer.
Bigboob. You should think before you post silly comments.
You might have noticed that Trump & Rubio got schlonged in Iowa by Cruz.
Iowa is more significant than a small northern state like liberal NH.
And Cruz has a lot more $ on hand.
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