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.
In logical terms that called a tortured path. Care to reconsider the logic by revising and extending your remarks?
As to Rubio, even as a strong Cruz supporter, if Rubio can run up to #1 in SC Primary is fine. That would lay bare the Trump asinine antics for what they really are. All smoke, no fire, failure.