Rubio is the Republicans' last hope

While I continue to question the rationality of this stampede to declare Marco Rubio unviable if he doesn't finish ahead of Ted Cruz in South Carolina, at this point there can be no real question that Rubio is, in fact, the last chance for sane Republicans to rescue the party and the nation from disaster in November.

Rubio- already in a statistical tie with Cruz in South Carolina- has received a huge boost in the endorsement of popular Gov. Nikki Haley.

The magnanimous, smart and patriotic thing would be for Jeb Bush and John Kasich to withdraw from the race Saturday night and endorse Rubio no matter what the result, as long as he finishes ahead of both of them.

If he doesn't,  of course, the article is probably right. He and the Party are done for, and we're all in for an ugly, unseemly and extreme campaign on both sides and a national martyrdom for at least the next four years.

The question, it seems to me, would be whether if Donald Trump is the nominee this year the Republican party's brand might not be so damaged that it wouldn't even be a viable vehicle from which to stage a rescue operation for the country in 2020.

HT: Real Clear Politics

Graphic by DonkeyHotey