US election: Are Republicans heading for a two-man race?

[webfact]

US election: Are Republicans heading for a two-man race?



WASHINGTON: -- Outspoken frontrunner Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz shared the spoils in Super Saturday’s voting contests to find a US Republican presidential candidate.

Cruz believes his twin victories in Kansas and Maine show his strength, not only as the main challenger to Trump but also as the man to take on the Democrats.

“Republicans are coming together,” he said.

“They are uniting behind our campaign – the 65 percent of Republicans who recognise Donald Trump is not the best candidate to go head to head with Hillary Clinton.”

But try telling that to the billionaire businessman.

Celebrating his wins in Louisiana and Kentucky, Trump says he relishes a showdown with Cruz for the nomination – urging third placed Marco Rubio to bin his bid.

“I think Marco, Marco Rubio, had a very, very bad night and personally I call for him to drop out of the race,” Trump said.

Senator Rubio, however, campaigning in Puerto Rico, is far from ready to throw in the towel.

Considered the main hope of the Republican establishment, Rubio is confident that he can win his home state of Florida this month – a test many see as make or break time for his White House ambitions.

The Republican race has been marked by a growing wave of attacks on Trump from the party’s establishment amid his calls to build a wall on the border with Mexico, round up and deport 11 million undocumented immigrants and temporarily bar all Muslims from entering the United States.

The Republican establishment has not been much happier with Cruz, who has run as an outsider and has alienated many in Washington where he is bent on shaking things up.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-03-07

[NovaBlue05]

It's already a two man race

[Ulysses G.]

I am very hesitant to trust Trump, but I much prefer him to Cruz. I would probably vote for any Republican over Hillary because of her violations of the law, but there is almost no one left that I really like. Only a miracle will make Kasich or Rubio the nominee.

[keemapoot]

I am very hesitant to trust Trump, but I much prefer him to Cruz. I would probably vote for any Republican over Hillary because of her violations of the law, but there is almost no one left that I really like. Only a miracle will make Kasich or Rubio the nominee.

I'm somewhat different. I would take Hilary over any of these dupes the GOP has now, but only because she is highly competent and has Bill by her side to reign her in a bit. She is probably too clever to ever get punished for her transgressions.

If Romney somehow emerges as the nominee after a fight at the convention, I would take him over Hilary for sure, and normally would not choose him otherwise.

**Let's be honest. Trump is a pretender, crap shoot and bigger risk than the alternatives.

[willyumiii]

American politics has reached an all time low.

There is no one who is both qualified and trustworthy to elect.

The empire is falling apart.

[NovaBlue05]

I am very hesitant to trust Trump, but I much prefer him to Cruz. I would probably vote for any Republican over Hillary because of her violations of the law, but there is almost no one left that I really like. Only a miracle will make Kasich or Rubio the nominee.

I'm somewhat different. I would take Hilary over any of these dupes the GOP has now, but only because she is highly competent and has Bill by her side to reign her in a bit. She is probably too clever to ever get punished for her transgressions.

If Romney somehow emerges as the nominee after a fight at the convention, I would take him over Hilary for sure, and normally would not choose him otherwise.

I don't know that she's competent. She was elected Senator because NY was still in love with her husband. She was given the SoS job as Obama's payback to Bill for his endorsement in 2008. Seems the world was pretty much in flames at the end of that tenure.

I don't think Bill really wants the White House B.S. in his life again as he has already been to the mountaintop and can live a comfortable, wealthy life giving a few speeches a year. I suppose he has to pay Hillary back for all of his personal transgressions over the decades so he has to get her to inauguration. After that, he pops in for official photo ops.

[Jingthing]

Two man race?

Maybe.

But the way it's headed now, Kasich is still not out.

Rubio will lose Florida meaning he's finished, and Kasich may win Ohio AND Michigan.

That's puts Kasich in the picture in a contested convention.

In fact, if Kasich DOES win those states, it WILL be a contested convention.

A Kasich - Rubio ticket is still a possibility.

If it's really Cruz vs. Trump, Trump will win.

Cruz is just too creepy and there aren't that many evangelicals and many of them prefer Trump. Trump's not afraid of Cruz and he shouldn't be.

There won't be a double Cuban ticket as that's a sure loser.

Forget Romney, that's not happening.

Paul Ryan ... MAYBE.

This isn't a normal year for the republicans.

Trump is losing republican momentum, but Cruz has very strong negatives.

Kasich still makes the most sense for them, always has, but now more people are starting to notice.

It's weird that people falsely read him as a moderate; he is very right wing.

It's a potential meltdown of their party.

Reports are if it's Trump, he'll run to the LEFT of Clinton.

[keemapoot]

I am very hesitant to trust Trump, but I much prefer him to Cruz. I would probably vote for any Republican over Hillary because of her violations of the law, but there is almost no one left that I really like. Only a miracle will make Kasich or Rubio the nominee.

I'm somewhat different. I would take Hilary over any of these dupes the GOP has now, but only because she is highly competent and has Bill by her side to reign her in a bit. She is probably too clever to ever get punished for her transgressions.

If Romney somehow emerges as the nominee after a fight at the convention, I would take him over Hilary for sure, and normally would not choose him otherwise.

I don't know that she's competent. She was elected Senator because NY was still in love with her husband. She was given the SoS job as Obama's payback to Bill for his endorsement in 2008. Seems the world was pretty much in flames at the end of that tenure.

I don't think Bill really wants the White House B.S. in his life again as he has already been to the mountaintop and can live a comfortable, wealthy life giving a few speeches a year. I suppose he has to pay Hillary back for all of his personal transgressions over the decades so he has to get her to inauguration. After that, he pops in for official photo ops.

By competent I mean she knows the job and has planned and rehearsed her whole life for it. She used that time as first lady, instead of arranging flowers for heads of state, to "work the room," and everyone and everything she did was for a purpose. She got the SoS job not only for the payback to Obama (for sure that was true), but also because she had good relations with foreign leaders, knew the territory and had sat at all those tables as first lady.

She is a scheming driven woman, but is competent, if not totally transparent. As I said, Bill will have to keep her on a leash because she is so power hungry.

[NovaBlue05]

I am very hesitant to trust Trump, but I much prefer him to Cruz. I would probably vote for any Republican over Hillary because of her violations of the law, but there is almost no one left that I really like. Only a miracle will make Kasich or Rubio the nominee.

I'm somewhat different. I would take Hilary over any of these dupes the GOP has now, but only because she is highly competent and has Bill by her side to reign her in a bit. She is probably too clever to ever get punished for her transgressions.

If Romney somehow emerges as the nominee after a fight at the convention, I would take him over Hilary for sure, and normally would not choose him otherwise.

I don't know that she's competent. She was elected Senator because NY was still in love with her husband. She was given the SoS job as Obama's payback to Bill for his endorsement in 2008. Seems the world was pretty much in flames at the end of that tenure.

I don't think Bill really wants the White House B.S. in his life again as he has already been to the mountaintop and can live a comfortable, wealthy life giving a few speeches a year. I suppose he has to pay Hillary back for all of his personal transgressions over the decades so he has to get her to inauguration. After that, he pops in for official photo ops.

By competent I mean she knows the job and has planned and rehearsed her whole life for it. She used that time as first lady, instead of arranging flowers for heads of state, to "work the room," and everyone and everything she did was for a purpose. She got the SoS job not only for the payback to Obama (for sure that was true), but also because she had good relations with foreign leaders, knew the territory and had sat at all those tables as first lady.

She is a scheming driven woman, but is competent, if not totally transparent. As I said, Bill will have to keep her on a leash because she is so power hungry.

I need to hope for a miracle at this point

[godden]

As i see it Trump is the only one who isn't in some ones pocket all the others are brought and paid for, like most politicians in the world i might add.

[Jingthing]

As i see it Trump is the only one who isn't in some ones pocket all the others are brought and paid for, like most politicians in the world i might add.

So, what's his motivation? Does he come off saintly to you?

Clear headed people are seeing Trump as a dangerous x factor.

He changes positions constantly.

He lies constantly.

He clearly has no core ideology.

He's got a temper sane people don't want anywhere near nuclear weapons.

This is madness and he MUST be stopped.

[bassman]

I am very hesitant to trust Trump, but I much prefer him to Cruz. I would probably vote for any Republican over Hillary because of her violations of the law, but there is almost no one left that I really like. Only a miracle will make Kasich or Rubio the nominee.

I'm somewhat different. I would take Hilary over any of these dupes the GOP has now, but only because she is highly competent and has Bill by her side to reign her in a bit. She is probably too clever to ever get punished for her transgressions.

If Romney somehow emerges as the nominee after a fight at the convention, I would take him over Hilary for sure, and normally would not choose him otherwise.

I don't know that she's competent. She was elected Senator because NY was still in love with her husband. She was given the SoS job as Obama's payback to Bill for his endorsement in 2008. Seems the world was pretty much in flames at the end of that tenure.

I don't think Bill really wants the White House B.S. in his life again as he has already been to the mountaintop and can live a comfortable, wealthy life giving a few speeches a year. I suppose he has to pay Hillary back for all of his personal transgressions over the decades so he has to get her to inauguration. After that, he pops in for official photo ops.

By competent I mean she knows the job and has planned and rehearsed her whole life for it. She used that time as first lady, instead of arranging flowers for heads of state, to "work the room," and everyone and everything she did was for a purpose. She got the SoS job not only for the payback to Obama (for sure that was true), but also because she had good relations with foreign leaders, knew the territory and had sat at all those tables as first lady.

She is a scheming driven woman, but is competent, if not totally transparent. As I said, Bill will have to keep her on a leash because she is so power hungry.

I don't agree with your assessment of Hillary being competent, as competence does not include complete dereliction of her duties to safeguard America's top secrets by using a private and unsecure server. America does not deserve this total airhead as president.

[JemJem]

Florida polls don't look so good for Rubio, as of now :

http://heavy.com/news/2016/03/florida-gop-republican-polls-latest-current-polling-numbers-favorite-primary-donald-trump-marco-rubio-ted-cruz/

[emilymat]

As a Brit I'm fascinated by the US election system. It appears to me that Republican voters may end up with a choice between two candidates Trump/Cruz, who are both loathed by the establishment. (Not sure why Cruz is, but can understand the attitude to Trump).

I always remember an incident some 40 years ago in the UK on atrain from London to Birmingham. I was a minor union official and on the train I bumped into Arthur Scargill, who was on his way to a meeting about the miners strike. (He was an anit Thatcher firebrand as many may recall).

Anyway, I had a reasonable conversation with him on the train and he was quite realistic and pragmatic about the situation as it was at the time. But, when the train pulled into Birmingham, with a gaggle of reporters on the platform, he suddenly changed competely and turned into a ranting, finger jabbing being.

I wonder if Trump is like this?.

As an outsider it seems to me that whoever is the nominee, they will not be able to beat the democrat candidate, as I get the impression many repulican voters may well stay at home. Of course, I could be way off the mark, but the next few months will be really interesting.

Who would have thought, we in the UK would have a leader of the Labour Party who only got a nomination to run becasue some MP's felt they wanted to provide a balance between left and right to the elecorate. Seems to be happening everywhere!.

[Jingthing]

Florida polls don't look so good for Rubio, as of now :

http://heavy.com/news/2016/03/florida-gop-republican-polls-latest-current-polling-numbers-favorite-primary-donald-trump-marco-rubio-ted-cruz/

No. I expect him to lose badly ending his hopes to be nominated, except for VP.

[up2u2]

Trump or Cruz a Hillary victory in a landslide election win.

Kasich is the Republicans best chance to take on Hillary. Kasich's advantage is he is sane and actually has policies that will appeal to center Democrats and moderate Republicans. None of which he will implement of course but neither will Hillary.

Hmmmm getting close to 'running mate' time.

Hillary should pick Elizabeth Warren. Only problem there is she is too good a politician to be sidelined as a lame duck Vice President. If Hillary and Warren could work together they would be a formidable force for real change in America.

[Jingthing]

The republicans would be fools not to broker a Kasich-Rubio ticket. But that's up to them. Big mess!

I agree there's a good argument for a Clinton-Warren ticket.

Warren isn't senior enough for the top job but she represents Bernie style politics.

That will give people good reasons to vote FOR Hillary (who doesn't inspire passion) and also if it's Trump (or Cruz) an even better reason to vote AGAINST her opposition.

Kasich would be much harder to demonize. His politics are atrocious but he's likable and makes people feel good.

[up2u2]

As a Brit I'm fascinated by the US election system. It appears to me that Republican voters may end up with a choice between two candidates Trump/Cruz, who are both loathed by the establishment. (Not sure why Cruz is, but can understand the attitude to Trump).

I always remember an incident some 40 years ago in the UK on atrain from London to Birmingham. I was a minor union official and on the train I bumped into Arthur Scargill, who was on his way to a meeting about the miners strike. (He was an anit Thatcher firebrand as many may recall).

Anyway, I had a reasonable conversation with him on the train and he was quite realistic and pragmatic about the situation as it was at the time. But, when the train pulled into Birmingham, with a gaggle of reporters on the platform, he suddenly changed competely and turned into a ranting, finger jabbing being.

I wonder if Trump is like this?.

As an outsider it seems to me that whoever is the nominee, they will not be able to beat the democrat candidate, as I get the impression many repulican voters may well stay at home. Of course, I could be way off the mark, but the next few months will be really interesting.

Who would have thought, we in the UK would have a leader of the Labour Party who only got a nomination to run becasue some MP's felt they wanted to provide a balance between left and right to the elecorate. Seems to be happening everywhere!.

Cruz isn't hated by the establishment he is hated by his Party. None of his Republican Congress colleagues have endorsed him. They don't like him. He is actually funded by the 'usual suspects' Billionaire class Koch Bros. / Adalsen / Friess / Singer et al

Republican voters NEVER stay home they are desperate for a win and they only win when the Democrat voters stay home.

Keep in mind the numbers you see supporting Trump are far Right Wing nutters / racists and rednecks of the Republican Party he isn't facing the Democrat electorate yet. That's when he comes to a standstill.

[up2u2]

The republicans would be fools not to broker a Kasich-Rubio ticket. But that's up to them. Big mess!

I agree there's a good argument for a Clinton-Warren ticket.

Warren isn't senior enough for the top job but she represents Bernie style politics.

That will give people good reasons to vote FOR Hillary (who doesn't inspire passion) and also if it's Trump (or Cruz) an even better reason to vote AGAINST her opposition.

Kasich would be much harder to demonize. His politics are atrocious but he's likable and makes people feel good.

Only problem with Kasich is Lehman Bros. Not sure how he talks his way out of that one.

Hillary and Warren two women man you wouldn't want to go up against those two. Super smart and they don't come anymore cunning. Warren is a brilliant communicator and has a great sense of humour.

[Ulysses G.]

Republican voters NEVER stay home

Sure they do. That is how Obama won in 2012. The FAR right - the people who support Ted Cruz now - stayed home because Romney was too moderate.

If Ted Cruz is the candidate this time, the moderates will stay home or even vote for Hillary. I'm not sure what the response would be to Trump.

Donald Trump is unprecedented. He is an enigma.

[Jingthing]

Of course Hillary may also pick Castro.

[NeverSure]

Florida is Rubio's home state and the state that elected him to be a US Senator. If he can't win this one he's pretty much toast.

[kamahele]

I am very hesitant to trust Trump, but I much prefer him to Cruz. I would probably vote for any Republican over Hillary because of her violations of the law, but there is almost no one left that I really like. Only a miracle will make Kasich or Rubio the nominee.

Both Republican candidates offer the same package, the difference being the Trump is a crude man so his message is not packaged as prettily as Cruz. About Hillary, what violations of the law has she been convicted of? Currently there is a lot of innuendo being passed around by Republicans through the media but not law enforcement agency has said anything about her violating the law.

[NeverSure]

As a Brit I'm fascinated by the US election system. It appears to me that Republican voters may end up with a choice between two candidates Trump/Cruz, who are both loathed by the establishment. (Not sure why Cruz is, but can understand the attitude to Trump).

I always remember an incident some 40 years ago in the UK on atrain from London to Birmingham. I was a minor union official and on the train I bumped into Arthur Scargill, who was on his way to a meeting about the miners strike. (He was an anit Thatcher firebrand as many may recall).

Anyway, I had a reasonable conversation with him on the train and he was quite realistic and pragmatic about the situation as it was at the time. But, when the train pulled into Birmingham, with a gaggle of reporters on the platform, he suddenly changed competely and turned into a ranting, finger jabbing being.

I wonder if Trump is like this?.

As an outsider it seems to me that whoever is the nominee, they will not be able to beat the democrat candidate, as I get the impression many repulican voters may well stay at home. Of course, I could be way off the mark, but the next few months will be really interesting.

Who would have thought, we in the UK would have a leader of the Labour Party who only got a nomination to run becasue some MP's felt they wanted to provide a balance between left and right to the elecorate. Seems to be happening everywhere!.

-snip-

Republican voters NEVER stay home they are desperate for a win and they only win when the Democrat voters stay home.

Keep in mind the numbers you see supporting Trump are far Right Wing nutters / racists and rednecks of the Republican Party he isn't facing the Democrat electorate yet. That's when he comes to a standstill.

You may get surprised.

"Poll: Nearly 20 Percent of Democrats Would Vote for Trump Over Hillary."

LINK

[Jingthing]

As a Brit I'm fascinated by the US election system. It appears to me that Republican voters may end up with a choice between two candidates Trump/Cruz, who are both loathed by the establishment. (Not sure why Cruz is, but can understand the attitude to Trump).

I always remember an incident some 40 years ago in the UK on atrain from London to Birmingham. I was a minor union official and on the train I bumped into Arthur Scargill, who was on his way to a meeting about the miners strike. (He was an anit Thatcher firebrand as many may recall).

Anyway, I had a reasonable conversation with him on the train and he was quite realistic and pragmatic about the situation as it was at the time. But, when the train pulled into Birmingham, with a gaggle of reporters on the platform, he suddenly changed competely and turned into a ranting, finger jabbing being.

I wonder if Trump is like this?.

As an outsider it seems to me that whoever is the nominee, they will not be able to beat the democrat candidate, as I get the impression many repulican voters may well stay at home. Of course, I could be way off the mark, but the next few months will be really interesting.

Who would have thought, we in the UK would have a leader of the Labour Party who only got a nomination to run becasue some MP's felt they wanted to provide a balance between left and right to the elecorate. Seems to be happening everywhere!.

-snip-

Republican voters NEVER stay home they are desperate for a win and they only win when the Democrat voters stay home.

Keep in mind the numbers you see supporting Trump are far Right Wing nutters / racists and rednecks of the Republican Party he isn't facing the Democrat electorate yet. That's when he comes to a standstill.

You may get surprised.

"Poll: Nearly 20 Percent of Democrats Would Vote for Trump Over Hillary."

LINK

If they're mostly in red states who cares?

[Ulysses G.]

About Hillary, what violations of the law has she been convicted of?

Another comedian. She has not been convicted YET, but she certainly broke the law. The mystery is whether the Obama Justice Department will uphold it - the law - or not.

[wabothai]

American politics has reached an all time low.

There is no one who is both qualified and trustworthy to elect.

The empire is falling apart.

This one is for you Nevershure.

[elgordo38]

I am very hesitant to trust Trump, but I much prefer him to Cruz. I would probably vote for any Republican over Hillary because of her violations of the law, but there is almost no one left that I really like. Only a miracle will make Kasich or Rubio the nominee

Kasich seems like the only sensible one among the bunch. He calmly talks fact and stays away from mud slinging. Unfortunately his stance seems to be out of favor at the moment.

[Jingthing]

I am very hesitant to trust Trump, but I much prefer him to Cruz. I would probably vote for any Republican over Hillary because of her violations of the law, but there is almost no one left that I really like. Only a miracle will make Kasich or Rubio the nominee

Kasich seems like the only sensible one among the bunch. He calmly talks fact and stays away from mud slinging. Unfortunately his stance seems to be out of favor at the moment.

But he's trending up now. Finally getting the attention he deserved all along. Rubio and Cruz are both just very junior senators. Like Obama was. Ha ha.

I'll take a little prediction credit. I thought Kasich would be a contender from the start while most pundits and posters thought he'd be long gone by now. Of course he's still a long shot to be nominated but making it to the final four ain't chopped liver.

[NeverSure]

You may get surprised.

"Poll: Nearly 20 Percent of Democrats Would Vote for Trump Over Hillary."

LINK

If they're mostly in red states who cares?

Are Democrats in blue states not concerned about jobs or low wages? Are they not concerned that their good job was shipped to China or Mexico? Are they not concerned that massive immigration drives wages down, even for them? What if a bunch of "Reagan Democrats" show up?

"The term Reagan Democrat is sometimes used to describe moderate Democrats who are more conservative than liberal on certain issues like national security and immigration." LINK

After a lousy economy, high unemployment and soaring inflation during Democrat Jimmy Carter's presidency, Reagan ran a theme that we could "make America great again" but he didn't use that phrase. He used economic optimism and his own phrases and he was a great speaker even if an actor.

He got the votes of a lot of Democrats over national security (Iran, Gorbachev) and the economy including jobs. He won by a landslide with his optimism.

What does Hillary have to offer other than same ole?

Cheers.