MARCO RISING? – AT 11:30 A.M. ET:  It's hard to see how Marco Rubio can win the Republican nomination.  Trump is dominating the field and no one can break him.  "Stop Trump" movements spring up, and are promptly ignored. 

And yet Rubio, who I still think would be the most electable nominee, shows pockets of strength upon which he can possibly build, assuming Trump falters.  From Powerline: 

The Minnesota Poll on the 2016 presidential race is out, and its results will be shocking to some. On the Republican side, opinion is split: Marco Rubio leads with 23% and Ted Cruz is second with 21%. But in a general election matchup, Rubio wallops Clinton by nine points, 49-40.

It’s no fluke: 52% of Minnesotans disapprove of Hillary, so she is eminently beatable here. Cruz tops Clinton by two points, which I assume is within the margin of error. Rubio’s wide margin over Clinton reflects the fact that he is carries young voters (18-34) by 46%-38% and runs even among women (44%-45%).

This year, Minnesota will matter in the presidential race for the first time in a long while, as its caucuses are scheduled for March 1. Rubio says he will make a major effort to carry the state, and other candidates presumably will do likewise.

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

“A lot of people are looking at Rubio right now to see if he emerges,” said Joseph Peschek, a political scientist at Hamline University in St. Paul. “A lot of Republican voters aren’t sure who to support, and I think they will be watching Iowa and New Hampshire and the early contests to see who shakes out.”

The poll suggests that Rubio has wide appeal among Republicans seeking an alternative to Trump and Cruz who could win over independents in the general election.

COMMENT:  I have to believe that this election year will still be filled with surprises.  The results of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton could change history.  Trump could eventually wear out his welcome, although he has emerged as a better strategist than any other candidate competing for the GOP nomination, and time is running out for the other contenders.

January 24, 2016