I think there’s GOPe strategy afoot.
Use Cruz to knock Trump down. Manipulate expectations by pumping up Trump to knock him down later.
RUBIO is their guy. Make no mistake. It’s all about amnesty.
They want to tank Trump and Cruz. Both of those guys are the threat to the Uniparty.
You are right - they want a GOPe and Rubio is their guy. Who knows if those votes in Iowa for the Rube were fair: After all, Microsoft, who so graciously, offered their tally machines free of charge to Iowa, is one of the large donors to the Rubio campaign. What could go wrong?