Disclaimer: this is all speculation. It might sound like I've gone full history channel. I am pretty well buzzed.
Cruz, Rubio, and Kasich formed team Nottrump after South Carolina. Trump swept S Carolina, traditionally THE momentum state, and this woke the GOP the F up.
Immediately, you see a change of tone. Prior to SC, Rubio & Cruz were at each other like dogs while Trump played with Bush like a ball of yarn. The first debate after SC, Cruzrubio took a page out the WWF and went tagteam on Vince McMahon err... Donald Trump. Coincidentally, we all notice that Rubio is much better at Trash talk than Cruz. At one point, on commercial break, Rubik walks behind Trump to give Cruz high five. I think they had a loose coalition at that point - let's knock down Trump a peg and see what happens on super Tuesday.
ST - Cruz wins three and 2ND in most others. Rubio wins one. Next debate you see another shift. Rubio goes even deeper in the gutter and plays generation X trash talk with Trump. Hardly even tries to look presidential. Big, jovial smile on his face the whole time. Meanwhile, Cruz follows up each Trump/Rubio penis joke with a policy point. Trump clearly showing contempt for little Marco, but flat out ignores Cruz. To put it bluntly, Rubio was blocking for Cruz. Occasionally kasich jumps in as the adult in the room and says something very reasonable and sincere. Otherwise, he stays out of the scrum.
Keep in mind, the request from Romney was - vote for whomever has the best chance of defeating Trump in your state. If that doesn't tell you that team nottrump exists, well.
Team GOP is team nottrump.
Kasich- in it to win Ohio. Strong finish in northeast, rust belt also a plus.
Rubio- if you can't beat em... dude quit his Senate job. Play attack dog and clown Trump shamelessly, we'll line you out with XY after.
Cruz- win the West.
Romney- pretty obvious. Cast SERIOUS questions on Trump. Leave the sophomoric stuff to foam party Rubik.
What's the end goal of all this? Not trump. If one of them finishes close enough to Trump (Cruz or Kasich) to win on first ballot, that's the ideal. Otherwise, tough decisions but probably the closest nottrump on the 2ND ballot.
This is what desperation looks like. Trump is still the favorite.
Cruz, Rubio, and Kasich formed team Nottrump after South Carolina. Trump swept S Carolina, traditionally THE momentum state, and this woke the GOP the F up.
Immediately, you see a change of tone. Prior to SC, Rubio & Cruz were at each other like dogs while Trump played with Bush like a ball of yarn. The first debate after SC, Cruzrubio took a page out the WWF and went tagteam on Vince McMahon err... Donald Trump. Coincidentally, we all notice that Rubio is much better at Trash talk than Cruz. At one point, on commercial break, Rubik walks behind Trump to give Cruz high five. I think they had a loose coalition at that point - let's knock down Trump a peg and see what happens on super Tuesday.
ST - Cruz wins three and 2ND in most others. Rubio wins one. Next debate you see another shift. Rubio goes even deeper in the gutter and plays generation X trash talk with Trump. Hardly even tries to look presidential. Big, jovial smile on his face the whole time. Meanwhile, Cruz follows up each Trump/Rubio penis joke with a policy point. Trump clearly showing contempt for little Marco, but flat out ignores Cruz. To put it bluntly, Rubio was blocking for Cruz. Occasionally kasich jumps in as the adult in the room and says something very reasonable and sincere. Otherwise, he stays out of the scrum.
Keep in mind, the request from Romney was - vote for whomever has the best chance of defeating Trump in your state. If that doesn't tell you that team nottrump exists, well.
Team GOP is team nottrump.
Kasich- in it to win Ohio. Strong finish in northeast, rust belt also a plus.
Rubio- if you can't beat em... dude quit his Senate job. Play attack dog and clown Trump shamelessly, we'll line you out with XY after.
Cruz- win the West.
Romney- pretty obvious. Cast SERIOUS questions on Trump. Leave the sophomoric stuff to foam party Rubik.
What's the end goal of all this? Not trump. If one of them finishes close enough to Trump (Cruz or Kasich) to win on first ballot, that's the ideal. Otherwise, tough decisions but probably the closest nottrump on the 2ND ballot.
This is what desperation looks like. Trump is still the favorite.