The latest GOP debate changes nothing – the front runners are still Trump, Rubio and Cruz
The betting barely moved
I didn’t stay up for the latest GOP debate overnight and have yet to watch the entire event. So my comments here are based on the betting markets and what respected US commentators thought.
This was the judgement of Political Wire’s Taegan Goddard:
“.. Once again, Trump was the winner. Cruz took some hits on how he would combat the Islamic State, but he was very strong. Rubio fell short in defending himself on immigration in exchanges with Cruz. Trump has shown he can afford to be less precise on his own positions and that didn’t hurt him tonight… “
The campaign will now broadly close down for the holiday season for hostilities to be resumed in the new year. Then we will have about 4 weeks before the Iowa Caucuses. This will be followed in quick succession by the formal primaries in New Hampshire and North Caroline. After those we’ll have a clearer idea how this is going.
The field remains far too large but it’ll be early February before we can expect some of the weaker contenders to pull out. A lot of eyes are on the former front runner Jeb Bush. There are indications that his departure, if it happens, could give a boost to Rubio
My money for the nomination remains on Cruz, Trump and Rubio.