I think Rubio will be the nom. Will early popularity help or hurt him?

[NightWatcher]

This time last time Herman Cain was the soup du jour and we know how well that worked out for him.

Trump is declining and Carson maybe can ride the peak of the wave for a month. After that, does it hurt Rubio or help him to ascend to the top of the dung heap now and sit there for almost a year before the election.

Personally, I'd like to see him on top, to take blows from all sides for as long as possible. I don't want him to be the late breaking horse that seems to come out of nowhere next April or May.

I think Rubio/Cruz would be a tough ticket, but I doubt their egos would condone the setup.

[spinbaby]

1. I think Rubio for VP

Kasich-Rubio seems most likely IMHO. Cruz gives off a creepy vibe.

[TrollBuster9090]

9. Ted Cruz reminds too many people of Mr. Haney from Green Acres. Me included.

[Goblinmonger]

13. That's it

THANK YOU!

[spinbaby]

14. More like Grandpa Munster

That's who he always reminded me of.

[RandySF]

2. Rubio is not Cain

Ignore clowns like Trump and Carson. They will not be nominated. Look at Rubio and Kasich and Bush, who is not dead yet (but close).

[Bucky]

6. Honestly, Bush came off a little clownish

But yes, Rubio is a far more disciplined candidate than Cain. I don't like the visuals of him running against Clinton next fall. As Democrats we'd basically be counting on two things to win: the voters' brains and his mouth. It's not smart politics to go in banking on the opponent to make a mistake (especially an uncharacteristic mistake). So far he's been pretty slick about playing the "I don't attack my opponents" card.

As nominee, he won't have to attack Clinton. He'll have Trump out there Twittering stink bombs every couple of days (and a compliant media reporting on every little Twittergasm as if it's actually news). This is what a Republican victory would look like... yet another massive game of distraction, followed by President Rubio appointing Ruth Bader Ginsberg's replacement on the Supreme Court.

[charlyvi]

3. I don't think he's ready for the scrutiny that comes with breaking from the pack too early.

Whinging will only take you so far; he needs to grow up and start answering some questions. Deflection is not a good campaign strategy.

[katmondoo]

4. He never shows up for votes in the Senate

Reid is asking for him to resign. What sort of President will this loser make?

[madville]

15. Hillary Clinton and Obama

Showed up for less Senate votes than he has over the same time frame in 2007. That's not an angle that will stick against Hillary when she missed something like 89% of her votes during her 2008 campaign.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. I don't think it will wind up being any of the current declared candidates. I feel a draft.

[patricia92243]

8. Michael Bloomberg???

[Tikki]

11. I have always thought they were going to draft ryan at the con-vention.. I have no idea how....

that would work now with his speakership.

I thought ryan as pres. and rubio as vp.


Tikki

[Bucky]

7. I don't see Cruz taking the #2 slot. It's a job for a team player.

As a nominee, Rubio would look to flip the Dems' most vulnerable purple states in the Great Lakes area. A Wisconsin, Ohio, or Illinois Republican would be a very smart move.

But you're right... Rubio's a game changer. He's their best chance against Clinton and he is a VERY disciplined candidate.

[Hortensis]

12. I can't imagine ANYONE giving Cruz an incentive to blow up the Oval Office.

[cwydro]

10. I can't stand Rubio, but Hillary would eat him for breakfast.

So he might be a great choice from our point of view.

[H2O Man]

16. I think he will

be selected for VP. I think that while he is able to repeat rehearsed lines very well -- both on the stump, and in debates -- he does not have the depth that either of the two major factions of the republican machine are looking for.

On the other hand, if he stays on script between now and late February, you might very well be right.