“I intend to vote for Cruz in the March 1 primary but if I eventually have to choose between Trump and Rubio, I will be a Trump man.”
I was just arguing with a Rubio supporting about this over on Red State. He/she was saying that the lions share of Cruz voters will go to Rubio when/if Cruz drops out. It is very clear to me from talking with several Rubio supporters that they have absolutely NO clue how important immigration is and how deep the sense of betrayal there is toward Rubio over Gang of 8. They contend that Gang of 8 is not that important to voters, but I contend that if Rubio had not gone down that road, he’d probably be running away with the nomination at this point. Also, I think if the GOP had built the wall they authorized back in 2007 and the border was now satisfactorily secure, Trump would be a non-factor in this race.
As for me, I haven’t decided yet between Rubio and Trump if Cruz drops. With Rubio’s slippery language on immigration, I’m thinking the only way I could trust him is if he signed an ironclad contract stating that he’s learned his lesson and promising not to even think about amnesty again. Short of that, I think there’s a good chance he’ll burn us again.
I can't imagine Cruz votes going to Rubio. Cruz has been proposing a scorched earth policy towards illegals; Rubio wants to debate it "and in 10 years" debate again. Cruz supporters who disagree with Cruz on immigration will swing to Kasich; those who agree with Cruz will swing to Trump.