So Much For Shelving the Egos.

So Much for Shelving the Egos.  Foolish me; I thought there was a chance that Cruz and Rubio might join on a ticket to consolidate conservative Republicans and put down the Donald.  Now comes this report from Fox News: "We had so much fun winning Sen. Cruz's home state by 17 points, we thought why not repeat that in Sen. Rubio's home state?” Kellyanne Conway, heads Keep the Promise I, told Politico.   This is a Cruz Super PAC and the Cruz campaign is now saying it will open ten campaign offices in Florida and compete for the win. 

Really?  You’re going to win Florida by 17 points?  You are going to win Florida and beat both Trump and Rubio by 17 points?  You, Miss Conway, are behaving in an asinine fashion.  This is a perfect example of why Hillary Clinton might very well be our next president.  Instead of focusing their resources on Michigan and taking Trump head-on, they instead target the current number 3 man in the race in his home state, whilst currently running a distant third in Florida polls.  This is the type of scorched earth and petty campaigning that will lead to a Trump nomination and a Democratic victory in November.  If Ms. Conway gets her wish and knocks down Rubio, it is entirely likely that Trump will win Florida.  That would be 99 winner-take-all delegates to Trump.  Go ahead and knock down Rubio and push the man you are chasing another hundred delegates ahead; that is just freaking brilliant strategy.  After the “Carson is quitting” fiasco in Iowa and the “photo shopping” shenanigans in New England, this is what the Cruz campaign people come up with? 

I am on record as being a Rubio supporter.  But I am also on record as being a Cruz and Kasich supporter.  I went a step further, swallowed my pride, and suggested that Marco might fold his tent and take a number 2 spot on a Cruz/Rubio ticket.  But I also said that the egos would have to be managed.  This is not the type of management I had in mind.   The arrogance and self-centered attitude exhibited by this episode must certainly be cause for celebration in the Trump camp and by those who support him.  For anyone looking for a competent and conservative President this November, it is a moment of exasperation and frustration.   Politics ain’t beanbag and a candidate must play to win, but I fail to see how this stunt will accomplish anything but bridge burning.