Will Rubio implode?

[Mike Thick]

Following what most agree was a poor debate performance, will Rubio implode? Discuss.

[Gass3268]

Yup, this is an "Oops" level moment.

[Oak Hills]

He may. This kind of reminds me of Walker's debate performance before he imploded. However, I doubt his numbers will decline quickly enough for him to get below the top three in New Hampshire on Tuesday.

[Abraham Reagan]

He won't necessarily implode, but his momentum will  be severely stunted, possibly mortally.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

No, he will still rally the Establishment support around him

[Maxwell]

My guess is he finishes in a brutal 6th place in New Hampshire. I'd consider that an implosion.

[tpfkaw]

Yup, this is an "Oops" level moment.

It actually looked worse than "oops," I thought. But it won't be as damaging because he's got the establishment spinning on his behalf, while Perry had them trying to tear him down.

[Simfan34]

Hopefully.

No, he will still rally the Establishment support around him

The party establishment has other options, you know.

[BM]

They were even skewering him on Fox News so the sheep will fall in line.

[NHI]

Quite possibly, certainly tonight he was exposed a lightweight.

[Pandaguineapig]

The superbowl is tommorrow this will probably be out of the media by tuesday. another "new york values" moment for this forum

[tpfkaw]

The superbowl is tommorrow this will probably be out of the media by tuesday. another "new york values" moment for this forum

"New York values" was hugely damaging for Cruz. If not for that he'd have won Iowa by a huge 10-point margin and we'd be talking about him as the presumptive nominee.

[BM]

It's making the rounds on social media since it's easy to digest as a funny political embarrassment.

He's a laughingstock now. Nice try though.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

The superbowl is tommorrow this will probably be out of the media by tuesday. another "new york values" moment for this forum

"New York values" was hugely damaging for Cruz. If not for that he'd have won Iowa by a huge 10-point margin and we'd be talking about him as the presumptive nominee.

What world do you live in?  The reason Cruz won Iowa was the "New York values" statement against Trump.  Since almost none of y'all are real Republicans (not moderate heroes or ironic supporters), y'all don't know how we think!

[cinyc]

"New York values" was hugely damaging for Cruz. If not for that he'd have won Iowa by a huge 10-point margin and we'd be talking about him as the presumptive nominee.

No.  The New York values line worked so well for Cruz that he used it in an Iowa commercial against Trump and won Iowa.  Cruz' campaign is the most data driven of the Republican field, and he knew that it plays well in Iowa.  Otherwise, he would have stopped using it after the debate.

[Podgy the Bear]

Nevertheless, he looked stupid.  Unlike Trump and Cruz, he doesn't have die hard supporters that will overlook the shortcomings of the candidate.  If he drops out from the #2 position in NH (and I think he will), it will be difficult for Rubio to come back for the SEC primaries and beyond.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

The superbowl is tommorrow this will probably be out of the media by tuesday. another "new york values" moment for this forum

"New York values" was hugely damaging for Cruz. If not for that he'd have won Iowa by a huge 10-point margin and we'd be talking about him as the presumptive nominee.

Uh, the people of NH would rather commit suicide than give a plurality of their vote to Cruz.

[Mehmentum]

Aliens could invade, the sun could turn red, and Jesus could return to earth tomorrow, and Rubio would still implode.

[DrScholl]

ABC News tweeted that he repeated something multiple times, so I think he's got a problem.

[Penelope]

If Rubio doesn't get 2nd in New Hampshire, then the establishment will line up behind Bush. Tonight was his chance to capitalize on his momentum from IA and eliminate all doubts as to his ability to unite the party. Instead, he had gaffe of viral proportions which multiplied doubts about his candidacy exponentially.

Rubio needs a level of political skill that he simply does not possess in order to overcome this catastrophe.

[NHI]

If Rubio doesn't get 2nd in New Hampshire, then the establishment will line up behind Bush. Tonight was his chance to capitalize on his momentum from IA and eliminate all doubts as to his ability to unite the party. Instead, he had gaffe of viral proportions which multiplied doubts about his candidacy exponentially.

Rubio needs a level of political skill that he simply does not possess in order to overcome this catastrophe.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

The superbowl is tommorrow this will probably be out of the media by tuesday. another "new york values" moment for this forum

"New York values" was hugely damaging for Cruz. If not for that he'd have won Iowa by a huge 10-point margin and we'd be talking about him as the presumptive nominee.

What world do you live in?  The reason Cruz won Iowa was the "New York values" statement against Trump.  Since almost none of y'all are real Republicans (not moderate heroes or ironic supporters), y'all don't know how we think!

I am a real authentic cultural conservative, and this has absolutely nothing to do with it. It's all about getting supporters to show up, and Trump did not and Cruz did. Kudos to him.

[Attorney General & Senator Dwarven Dragon]

If Rubio doesn't get 2nd in New Hampshire, then the establishment will line up behind BushChristie/Kasich. Tonight was his chance to capitalize on his momentum from IA and eliminate all doubts as to his ability to unite the party. Instead, he had gaffe of viral proportions which multiplied doubts about his candidacy exponentially.

Rubio needs a level of political skill that he simply does not possess in order to overcome this catastrophe.

ftfy

[Fuzzy Bear]

He won't necessarily implode, but his momentum will  be severely stunted, possibly mortally.

I checked "yes", but this is what I really believe.  Rubio is now the QB with a golden arm who can't read defenses.  He's the new stud lefty power hitter who can't hit lefty pitching and has trouble with breaking pitches.  The Donor Class was about to be sold on him; now, they're going to reevaluate whether or not he can really take this thing all the way.  Christopher Ruddy wrote an article for Newsmax entitled "Jeb Bush Deserves a Second Look", and he may get one, courtesy of Rubio's poor performance. 

[Higgs]

This debate will have little effect if any on Rubio's momentum. People overestimate the importance of these debates.