The problem here was that the pro-RINO voters saw Rubio as someone as acceptable as Crist, for their purposes, but younger and probably less gay.
They voted for Rubio and the Conservatives voted for Rubio and Rubio won.
Later on, in the 2012 election, after purging Florida's voter rolls of all the illegals, etc. we ran Romney against Obama and lost ~ with those same voters. The reason is now obvious ~ with Charlie Crist having officially 'gone over' so did his pro-RINO voters.
We know we no longer have the pro-RINO voter faction available to us in Florida. Hence Rubio's total panic ~
This movement of FACTIONS, not just individual voters, is the way the party system works in this country. We have to learn to work it by seeking out and registering Republican oriented voters ~ then we have to get them to the polls. And we need to avoid stirring up and encouraging Democrats to vote.
And a lesson concerning pro-RINO voters. They exist, and in some states they make a difference at the state office level ~ the Governor, Lt. Governor, Senators, and President! ~ they sure seem to have counted in Florida but I doubt running for Jeb Bush is the way to bring them back.
You are correct, Jeb! is not the way to go, just look to race to the top and common core.
I have given up calling them RINO’s and just flat out call them Progressives(.). There are so very few non-Progressive Republicans these days and something is going to have to give. The only hope left is getting the dumbasses to take the Founder’s Red Pill.
or the time being, I will remain registered to the GOP, but only as a means to try and effect the outcomes on the primary side.