I’ve been saying pretty much this since the process started.
The rules are set so that Bush, whatever his national % will likely get his required-for-consideration majorities in those Democrat state primaries and and the several conservative candidates are each unlikely to get those 8 in the rest. Without 8, which number was selected to screen out the conservatives even if a conservative has the majority of all delegates won so long as he doesn’t have 8 outright majorities. If Bush crashes out then Rubio drops neatly right into the same position. In the extreme the Gope candidate doesn’t have to get a single vote in the primaries in states that are expected to vote or who lean Republican so long as he gets his 8 majorities in the ineffectual states. That also fits Republican strategy to ensure an electoral loss in November. The Republican Party, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party is determined to remain as the “opposition” permanently, or at least until the voting population is increased through immigration and the effective legitimization of Democrat vote fraud to usher in the Permanent Democrat Total State. Then the Republicans expect to be comfortable pensioned off and rewarded with high positions in the new State. The reality attested to in History is that the Republicans will then become the first victims in the Show Trials that will ensue and serve the Democrat Party yet again as object lessons for the population.
What if Jeb drops out first?
That’s a pretty good summary. I sure hope it doesn’t play out that way but I think you nailed the GOPe’s thinking.