All the establishment endorsements he got in SC helped a little, but didn’t alter the outcome by very much, just allowed him to edge out Cruz for 2nd place, which no matter how they try to spin it, isn’t winning.
I think it is too late for this big effort. NV is tomorrow, and Trump is expected to win there. Then next week is contests in 14 states, and the old polls prior to Trump’s big wins in NH and SC and presumably in NV, show that Trump is leading in 10 of those states. New polls, post NH, SC and NV will undoubtedly show his numbers climbing into the 40’s and even 50’s.
If Cruz and Rubio don’t do real well on Super Tuesday, winning 2 or 3 states each as a minimum, their campaigns will be in big big trouble.
After Super Tuesday there are a series of primaries and caucuses on March 5, 6, 8, and 12. Then there are 6 contests on March 15 which are WINNER TAKE ALL. Their campaigns are going to have to have tons of money to compete, and a very fast paced nationwide primary battle. It’s not like they can go and camp out for weeks or months. Cruz looks like he is worried about losing TX as he is planning on spending time campaigning there this week.
Newton Gingrich tried to say that his wins in SC and GA were sufficient to be the nominee; he stayed in long enough to guarantee the Mittens nomination.