I agree.
Plus there is 12% support still in for “no-hopers” Bush Christie Huckabee Paul, that probably reapportions to Rubio. (ok, Maybe not Paul)
The real question is what happens to Cruz voters if Trump lasts longer than Cruz, and what happens to Trump voters if Cruz outlasts him.
Would Cruz voters who are doctrinaire Conservatives go to Trump who isn’t? I don’t know.
Would Trump voters who like a brash macho style switch to the rather odd personality of Cruz? I don’t know.
They’re both anti-establishment, in that sense they might move back and forth between Cruz and Trump, and it’s also hard to see them switch to Rubio if immigration is what they really care about, but that’s where the puzzle is.
Also what happens to Carson’s support assuming he gradually diminishes?
A lot of Carson supporters would have gone over to Cruz.... but the ‘dirty tricks’ story has Carson saying he will stay in the race for the long haul and he’s ticked at Cruz.
Hukcabee and Santorum have attacked Cruz as a phony and did show up to the Trump rally.
But the candidates don’t control voters. Even with an endorsement, they may go elsewhere.
The BIG BIG winner last night was Rubio.
Jeb and Kasich are toast and will be gone. ALL the GOP money and establishment will flock to him. He will get media protection with Fox already in full pimp mode.
They’ll encourage Trump and Cruz to kill each other. Then slide in Rubio like they did with Romney last time.
Trump and Cruz should go back to their truce.
Would Trump voters who like a brash macho style switch to the rather odd personality of Cruz? I don’t know.”
Cruz doesn’t back down. As Carville said, “he’s fearless” Nine US Supreme Court arguments, his Senate filibusters, etc. In fact, Cruz is the type who when he walks into a room knows to his core that he becomes the smartest there. He can stare down a rabid pit bull.