Sadly, Trump/Cruz/Walker/Carson/Huckabe are splitting the base votes, the 3 prong conservative votes. Bush/Walker/Rubio/Christie are splitting the pocketbook republican votes.
There are far more 3 prong conservatives than any other type, and if they coalesced around one candidate, they’d win going away.
My sense is that Carson and Huckabee are not going to win the nomination. Carson would be a good VP pick. (As would Fiorini)
Bush and Rubio don’t know what to do with Walker, who pulls some of the pocketbook republicans, however, they should both encourage Christie to bow out. Even though he might deliver New Jersey, he’s damaged goods for social conservatives.
Because of electoral college rules, there is a possibility of throwing the vice presidency to a democrat in a close election, if both candidates are from the same state, and there’s no advantage to it, anyway. I don’t know if they’ll fight it out or buy it out, but one of them has to go. In that regard, Rubio is doing a favor to 3 prong conservatives by staying in. He also would be a balancing VP pick who could deliver a major state.
Good assessment. Not a fan of Fiorini though and would hate to see her as VP pick. She has such an unsuccessful background that can be used against her.