Is Rubio finished?

[Joe Biden is your president. Deal with it.]

That had to been the most hilarious debate I've ever seen.

[ShamDam]

I think he is somewhere between finished, as he appears today, and guaranteed to get the nomination, as he appeared 24 hours ago.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

Of course not, he is still on track to win the nomination.

[Xing]

He's not finished, but he's certainly not the favorite by this point.

[DavidB.]

Of course not, he is still on track to win the nomination.

[Reaganfan]

Not at all. In fact, I was at work, so the way I read it on this forum was that he used that line verbatim in the same time allotted, not at different times. When I actually watched the debate, I was pleasantly relieved to see that it was quite different than what I had interpreted from this forum.

Remember, this forum also thought Jack Conway, Charlie Crist and Pat Quinn were shoo-ins to be Governors of their states. They thought weed would be legal in Ohio. They thought the "Hero" lol act would pass in Houston.

Sometimes, this forum should be used more as a time killer than for actual political discussion.

[Mike Thick]

There's no way of knowing, as we won't get anything out of New Hampshire until they actually vote. If he finished lower than third, though, he's done for good.

[President Johnson]

He's damaged, not finished. I think he'll be around until the Florida primary. After being beaten there by TRUMP he'll be out.

[Nyvin]

I'd be surprised if he wins the nomination at this point

[Trapsy]

I'd be surprised if he wins the nomination at this point

Trump and Cruz are better?

[Lincoln Republican]

Was Obama finished after his first debate with Romney in which Romney clearly bested Obama? 

[Higgs]

I'm gonna come back to this thread when Rubio places 2nd. (If he doesn't then you guys can sh*t on me)

[jaichind]

Well, if Rubio comes in second in NH then no one will even remember the poor debate performance.  If does not come in second I suspect that he is finished. 

[tpfkaw]

If he finishes fourth or worse in NH then he's finished. Otherwise he'll be able to salvage his campaign with a strong debate and/or a Nevada win before SC.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

If he's polling in the single digits in NH like one of the polls indicates he was on Sunday, then he's finished.

[wolfsblood07]

I think we get too excited every time something happens and make bold declarations, like "So and so will run the board!"  The next day "So and so won't win anywhere!"  So Rubio repeated a statement a bunch of times and suddenly he's finished?
I think the establishment GOP is still looking for the right candidate to coalesce around.  Rubio is the most likely choice, but at this point Jeb Bush, John Kasich and Chris Christie cannot be ruled out.  I predicted months ago that Jeb Bush would get a new lease on life.  He still might.

[Spark]

I think we get too excited every time something happens and make bold declarations, like "So and so will run the board!"  The next day "So and so won't win anywhere!"  So Rubio repeated a statement a bunch of times and suddenly he's finished?
I think the establishment GOP is still looking for the right candidate to coalesce around.  Rubio is the most likely choice, but at this point Jeb Bush, John Kasich and Chris Christie cannot be ruled out.  I predicted months ago that Jeb Bush would get a new lease on life.  He still might.

I think we can say he's cooked by now.

I totally agree. He really needs to place in the top 3 to maintain his momentum and position in this race. If not, one of the governors will break out and may have a path to the nomination. So Rubio still has a chance to get it together by doing well in NH. If not, he might have trouble going into SC.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

He's damaged, not finished. I think he'll be around until the Florida primary. After being beaten there by TRUMP he'll be out.

I agree with this.  I doubt Rubio will win the nomination now; no one has ever looked that bad in debate and won.  Christie really creamed Rubio, and it's not a good thing to be creamed.

The Florida primary is critical for Rubio.  In that regard, I would note that (A) Trump leads in the polls and (B) Jeb! leads in quality endorsements.  When it comes to Florida's Republican politicians and officeholders, Jeb! had done for them, but THEY have done for Rubio.  Rubio can't call in old favors like Jeb! can, even years later.  Then, too, Jeb! is well regarded in Florida.  He was a successful Governor; even Democrats will admit that much.  While Florida's GOP has shifted to the right, it is a pragmatic conservatism; the Tea Bag Kamikaze Krew won't get far in Florida's GOP. 

At this point, I believe that Jeb! will finish ahead of Rubio in Florida, and that will finish Rubio.  It will be interesting to see if he will try to run for re-election to the Senate.  It will be hard because a lot of Republicans have thrown their hats in the ring, and Rubio's absenteeism has damaged his reputation even amongst Republicans.  It's quite possible that Florida's GOP Establishment would view some of the non-incumbents as stronger candidates against Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-FL), a first-tier Senate challenger with crossover appeal, and the candidate likely to prevail over Alan Grayson.   

[sportydude]

LOL @ the 36 people who said 'no'...

[Sir Mohamed]

He will be the nominee.

[Vern]

He is finished, but he has to finish very well in SC.

[ProgressiveCanadian]

Yes he's finished.