The F**king Bridge Is Out!
Next Tuesday's News
In about 48 hours (3/15/16), if the polls are accurate, Marco Rubio will officially become the Michael Dukakis of the Republican party. By holding on, out of ego or poor judgement, for too long, he will hang the sign "loser" around his own neck. And I'm not saying that in the sense that I think Rubio is an actual loser. I don't. I like him. I like his style and his command of the facts. I am referring to the modern media machine and the label he'll carry forever; the man who couldn't carry his own state in a primary. He will be looked upon as damaged goods. Thanks to video, he will remain forever un-electable.
The sad part is he had two major opportunities to avoid this fate. The first step he took toward disaster is the one all the candidates to drop out, up until now, took as well. For months he ran a formulaic, risk-averse campaign. Recite your points, avoid controversy and move on to the next city. I was a voice in the wilderness, both here and in my book, virtually screaming at the candidates, especially the Republicans, NOT to do this. Not only is it not necessary, it has been for some time counterproductive. The Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street and the entire Democratic Party have proven the assertion.
What's more important, we had an advantage for a party who would run a balls-out, hard-hitting campaign. We have truth and history on our side. But no. Thirteen of the original seventeen GOP candidates (and their EFFING handlers) decided they wanted to run their campaigns right out of the McCain/Romney play book.
Epic fail.
More recently many people - you may have read it here first - were calling for Rubio to drop out and for Cruz to pick him up immediately as running mate. They would have done well together and would have annihilated Trump. We can safely assume Cruz's people advanced the offer. We can be equally sure Rubio's people declined. This was a monumental mistake. Marco Rubio is a young man. He would have had four to eight years as VP. He'd have come out of this campaign a winner. AND he would have been a near shoe-in in 2020 or 2024.
When Rubio finally drops out[1. One hope he doesn't embarrass himself the way Jeb did by hanging on endlessly and looking pathetic. I called Jeb "dead man walking" at the second debate and never changed my position.] Cruz may still offer him the early slot. But he will be handing it to a man who damaged his own brand needlessly by going to Florida and losing. That would be the same man who on Tuesday will hand Donald J. Trump a boatload of delegates that would have gone to a Cruz/Rubio ticket.
Sometimes it really sucks to be right. This is like watching a slow-motion train wreck months after you told everybody the bridge was out.
Matt Jordan is a travel writer, political commentator and author of 16 20 24. Get your SIGNED copy here!
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