TRUMP AS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE? At this stage it appears that the only way for the Republicans to stop Trump is to go the nuclear option — immediately reduce the field to Trump and one other. That one other should obviously be either Cruz or Rubio. The strongest configuration would be Rubio for President, Cruz for VP, with Cruz promised considerable influence on policy. Rubio is the better front man — he looks better, and his personality and demeanor connect better with the mass of voters.

Over at FiveThirtyEight, they are still arguing that Rubio has a slim chance even without Cruz dropping out.