So, I think we would all agree here at DK, and most would agree in all political circles regardless of party identity, that JEB!'s campaign has been a complete and total disaster up to this point.
1) JEB! is a pathetic campaigner - amongst the worst I have ever seen in my 52 years - and I've been a political junkie for about 42 years. JEB! is an absolute mess when he has to speak off the cuff - or even on the cuff for that matter. He is abysmal, terrible, atrocious, pick your adjective for really really really bad
2) JEB! has taken positions - CommonCORE, Immigration - that have ruined his chances with the base forever
3) JEB!'s brother is W - people don't seem to be forgetting that
4) JEB!'s ability to speak fluent Spanish is not necessarily a good thing for a Republican candidate for President in 2015
I seriously doubt JEB! would be in front of the pack even without the presence of Trump, because the Tea Baggers and base of the GOP find JEB! reprehensible.
However, Trump has figuratively emasculated and castrated JEB!, and killed JEB!'s chances. I think the only reason JEB! stays in the race is because his PAC - and Mike Murphy - have $100 million that they have to spend. What a waste of $100 million
All is not well in the JEB! campaign - fundraising is grinding to a halt. I mean, if YOU were a Republican donor would YOU donate to JEB!'s campaign based on his performance so far?
So, I don't realistically expect JEB! to drop out until after he loses Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. On the other hand, I also don't realistically expect him to be around after South Carolina either.
There simply is not path to the nomination for JEB! It is over