GOP insiders: Jindal and Pataki quit next; Rand Paul’s on the departure list too, insiders predict.

The Politico ^ | September 25, 2015 | Katie Glueck and Kristen Hayford

[Bogey78O]

Cruz is comfortably in the rear but not struggling. Staying in helps him have sway further down. Right now Jindal is losing clout the longer he stays. Pataki is holding on as a favor to the GOPe but even he realizes it’s making him look foolish.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Nah Bob, I think your theory is correct.......Linda was put there to keep Cruz from pulling a Newt in SC this go round....because the estabs know that if Cruz does, he is too smart to do what Newt did in Florida and blow it.

Now of course, Trump has come in and blown up all the models....there’s hardly a paradigm he hasn’t shattered. The one paradigm, that it’s dangerous to peak too early, is still to be determined....but hell, he may shatter that one too.

Another thing has blown up the model....60% of South Carolinians like Linda as senator, but only 1% like him for the Oval. That was predictable, but not by the clueless GOP e.

[C. Edmund Wright]

I kinda like Gilmore - but was your post satire or serious?

[Resettozero]

Those email blasts are written by professional fund raisers, not just Ted’s, but all of them. They may or may not have any relationship to the truth.

I hear ya. But again, what you are saying is that the Cruz campaign doesn't need any more money right now and that disagrees with what the professional fund raisers are sending out over Ted's and Heidi's names this past week.

Are you positive this notice from the Cruz campaign is a falsehood?

[Bogey78O]

That’s exactly why.

[catfish1957]

Pataki rather. (Sometimes I hate iOS autocorrect)

[DungeonMaster]

I actually have it on good authority that he is not in trouble. He has the second biggest Super PAC haul and he’s got more individual grass roots contributors than any other candidate as well....and he’s playing a long game.

I was just telling my family that I thought Cruz was playing a patient game of chess waiting for Trump to loose his queen to a pawn.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Well not positive about anything other than the fact that A: the Cruz Super PAC is flush and biding their time (rightly or wrongly) and that B: these fund raising emails from all candidates all the time say the exact same thing. It’s always about an urgent fund raising or reporting deadline. No one EVER says “we’re ahead of projections, so please jump in.”

thus I would assume nothing either way based on the email blast. I do have sources that assure me he’s in good shape for a long haul. They may be right or wrong, but these are smart money people with insider access.

[C. Edmund Wright]

was just telling my family that I thought Cruz was playing a patient game of chess waiting for Trump to loose his queen to a pawn.

Funny you phrase it that way. A big time money supporter of TC told me weeks ago that "Cruz is playing chess" in this campaign. And I think that's right. However, Trump may have come in and made the game checkers, not chess.....so it may not work.

[Resettozero]

Think I’ll be a sucker and send Cruz a check again anyway.
That way I’ll not have pulled back my financial support of Cruz’ campaign at the wrong time by mistake.

Better certain than sorry, if I truly am going to be a small-time financial supporter.

And TC is still the only Presidential candidate I support financially.

[DoodleDawg]

Can’t help but wonder if Graham’s in there to win his home state and throw those votes to Jeb. Same with Christie and Kasich.

I don't think Graham's poll numbers in SC are a whole lot better than his poll numbers nationally.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Oh, I fully encourage you to do that - campaigns can ALWAYS use a little more....whether they are really in trouble or just limping along or in good shape.

It’s a long slog. And TC is the only one I’d support financially too. I will support most of the others if they get the nomination, but not all.

[DungeonMaster]

Funny you phrase it that way. A big time money supporter of TC told me weeks ago that "Cruz is playing chess" in this campaign. And I think that's right. However, Trump may have come in and made the game checkers, not chess.....so it may not work.

I think we are just past the opening of the game. Two pawns are off the table and the power pieces are just positioning. I think there is a lot of game left and Trump is inexperienced in certain aspects. But he does know how to rally a crowd.

The thing I like about Trump is that he has an honesty that even the conservatives don't have. PC phrases like "Our friends across the aisle" are sickening. They are evil godless fiends and Trump is a little closer to actually calling them that. Now that would be some honesty.

[grania]

re: Graham's numbers.

As with the low numbers for the other establishment lapdogs in the race. Perhaps the plan crumbled. Do the elite have a clue how fed up we are and how much most 'pubs despise Jeb?

[Publius22]

Very good assessment of the situation of South Carolina. Check out this graph of the poll numbers in SC over the last 6 months:

RCP South Carolina Primary Polls

Trump's support exploded in August. If the election were held today, he would win easily.

Gingrich won in 2012, in large part, because of voter backlash against the MSM's hit job over his ex-wife's comments. SC Republicans despised the MSM back then, and even more so today after the smearing of the Confederate Flag. So Trump is surging because he's the candidate making the right enemies.

Cruz, unfortunately, is not connecting. He's actually lost support in SC over the last six months. I know some of his supporters suggest that it's smart for him to lay back and let Trump take all the heat; however, I don't see it that way. Criticism from the MSM is a good thing, at least it is to Republican primary voters. Cruz needs to come to SC and say something politically incorrect about the Confederate Flag, Islam, homosexuality, etc. and take some enemy fire. South Carolinians will have his back.

Simply talking about the Constitution just isn't enough. Maybe in an ideal world it would be enough, but that's not the world we live in.

[Sirius Lee]

Cruz stands to win all of the 1% Jindal vote, and most of RuPaul’s. Cruz is ahead of “!” in a few polls, has a huge organization on the ground, and is sitting on a ton of cash, so I don’t see him dropping out before “!” at all.

[Resettozero]

R2z,

Thank you for your contribution of $35.00.

Your financial support and commitment to this campaign and our great nation means the world to Heidi and me.

It’s going to take a new generation of courageous conservatives such as yourself to help make America great again. Together we can stand up and restore our promise, honor the Constitution and re-establish our leadership in the world.

Thank you again for your contribution. With your continued support, we can and will win this election and reignite the promise of America.

For liberty,

Ted Cruz

P.S. Please note, your donation will appear as "eDonation" on your statement.

[rrrod]

I want Bush out

[Charles Henrickson]

I think the six likely to stay in the longest are the three amateurs (Trump, Fiorina, and Carson) and the three with a shot at winning the nomination (Cruz, Rubio, and Bush). My top choice is Cruz.

[Oatka]

Bobby Jindal and George Pataki are the next two quitters in the Republican field.

No! No1 First they have to replace the latest sock puppet Media's new darling, who will unseat Trump.

Carly's starboard engine is starting to smoke, so Rubio is being warmed up. When he goes down, THEN it will be Jindal's turn, followed by Pataki. After those ploys have been wrung dry, they can quit, probably with a nice consoling campaign fund contribution.