Rubio: I will support Cruz on second ballot

[Landslide Lyndon]

Not an endorsement but pretty YUUUUUUGE news.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2016/04/marco-rubio-says-he-would-support-ted-cruz-on-second-ballot-at-convention.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Marco Rubio still isn’t endorsing Ted Cruz, but said he would support the Texan on a second ballot in the event of a contested convention.

"I hope that they'll nominate a conservative,” Rubio told Mark Levin, adding the only one who ”fits that criteria is Ted Cruz.”

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

LOL.

Going down in flames as a VP candidate is not a way to resurrect your political career, Marky.

[beaver2.0]

Well.  Wasn't this widely predicted?

[/]

Strange. In all honesty, I thought he was going to try to win the nomination at a multiple-ballot convention himself, especially considering he tried to prevent his delegates from being released even after he dropped out.

[Clark Kent]

Strange. In all honesty, I thought he was going to try to win the nomination at a multiple-ballot convention himself, especially considering he tried to prevent his delegates from being released even after he dropped out.

That's only to keep them from going to d!ckless over there.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

The far right extremist finally outs himself as NOT A REASONABLE MODERATE.

[Likely Voter]

I'm sure Kasich is not pleased by this. His whole rationale is people rallying to his side on the second ballot.  While Rubio wont be in total control of his delegates, I'm sure he will have a big influence and I expect Kasich thought he had a good shot at them.

[Xing]

Wow, imagine telling everyone in late 2013 that Cruz would become the establishment-backed "reasonable" alternative candidate.

[Blair]

Strange. In all honesty, I thought he was going to try to win the nomination at a multiple-ballot convention himself, especially considering he tried to prevent his delegates from being released even after he dropped out.

I think Marco worked out he doesn't want to be President

[PeteB]

Pretty big news - I would even call it an endorsement of sorts.  Here is just that video part:

https://www.levintv.com/videos/who-would-marco-rubio-support-for-the-republican-nominee

[Likely Voter]

Rubio has clarified:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Erc]

Rubio has clarified:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

There are, I believe, some states where it does matter for delegate rules purposes whether he endorsed or not.

As a result, it may be in Rubio's best interest to not explicitly endorse anyone until after the first ballot at the convention.

[standwrand]

I think Marco worked out he doesn't want to be President

[President Johnson]

Of course Little Marco would not back the candidate with the most votes and delegates by far. Because TRUMP destoyed him.

[ProudModerate2]

Of course Little Marco would not back the candidate with the most votes and delegates by far. Because TRUMP destoyed him.

The reason is probably more because Rubio refuses to back someone with such little hands ("Little Hands trump").

[Wisconsin+17]

Who hoo! More delegates.

[ProudModerate2]

Strange. In all honesty, I thought he was going to try to win the nomination at a multiple-ballot convention himself, especially considering he tried to prevent his delegates from being released even after he dropped out.

That's only to keep them from going to d!ckless over there.

Exactly. (But remember its not "d*ckless," but rather "small d*ck.")
;-)

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

If he really care about stopping Trump, he should swallow his ego and just endorse Cruz now.

[Maxwell]

Strange. In all honesty, I thought he was going to try to win the nomination at a multiple-ballot convention himself, especially considering he tried to prevent his delegates from being released even after he dropped out.

I think Marco worked out he doesn't want to be President

What's the point if it isn't some flashy ride where you get to eat on other people's dime?

[Free Bird]

He's basically keeping a giftbasket of delegates for him

[Vosem]

If he really care about stopping Trump, he should swallow his ego and just endorse Cruz now.

That's not the case, because at least on paper he is still running a "suspended" campaign, and getting to keep all his pledged delegates on the first ballot. There's a risk, if they become unpledged by him admitting that he's dropped out, that some of them will leak to _trump (this briefly happened in Alaska but was reversed). Thus, no endorsement is coming until after the failure of the first ballot.

[JMT]

Rubio most likely wants to keep his delegates bound to him for the first round in order to prevent Trump from getting 1237. I think Rubio will likely endorse Cruz for the second round of voting, in which case more delegates are unbound anyways and could flock to Cruz. If most of Rubio's delegates went to Cruz, that very well could make Cruz the nominee. Cruz would be thankful for this, enough so that he very well could give Rubio the VP slot on his ticket. I know this theory has been mentioned before, but I really could see it happening this way, despite the fact that Rubio says now that he won't be the VP nominee. I think Rubio is saying that for now to avoid looking like there's a backroom deal going on. If Cruz offered Rubio the VP slot, it's hard for me to see him refusing that. 

[NHI]

LOL.

Going down in flames as a VP candidate is not a way to resurrect your political career, Marky.

[Obama-Biden Democrat]

Wow, imagine telling everyone in late 2013 that Cruz would become the establishment-backed "reasonable" alternative candidate.

The Tea Party has won. Right wing radicalism is now the mainstream of the Republican party.

[Vosem]

Bad move this early.  This is just asking for Kasich to cut a deal with Trump and try to deny Cruz a majority on the Rules Committee.

I guess the question is...does Kasich have the presence, in state conventions and delegate numbers, to pull something like this off? I don't think this is the case.