A traditional media desperate for the Republican party to not lose its mind turns its hopeful eyes to Marco Rubio, who might not be totally embarrassed in Iowa. Or in The New York Times’ words, he's "resurgent" and "sprinting" to the finish in Iowa. To third place, but never mind that. He's resurgent.
But something appears to be shifting for Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. It is a change evident in his growing crowds; a string of endorsements; a friendly nod from a popular Iowa senator, Joni Ernst; and the cautious confidence he is starting to express.
“I’m very optimistic about the energy we’re gaining, the endorsements, the support and the turnout on a day like today,” Mr. Rubio told a crowd of more than 300 people who came to hear him speak here at a Best Western.
Over the weekend, Mr. Rubio won the backing of the state’s largest newspaper, The Des Moines Register. And on Sunday his campaign announced that Ms. Ernst would join him for a rally in Des Moines on Monday. While that does not amount to a formal endorsement, Ms. Ernst has no plans to campaign with any other candidate.
Of course, the state's senior senator, Chuck Grassley is hanging out with Donald Trump back home, though also not giving a formal endorsement. But never mind that, Rubio's the man! To come in third.
A third-place finish is the most realistic outcome the Rubio campaign expects, but it realizes that his margin over whoever finishes in fourth place is also significant. A large margin going into the New Hampshire primary a week later would give him a lift there. With Iowa out of reach, New Hampshire is the state where Mr. Rubio hopes to be able to perform strongly enough to begin consolidating support from the more moderate, establishment-aligned wing of the Republican Party.
And by South Carolina, the world's his oyster! That's the Rubio master plan, and at least the Times seems to have bought in to it. As for Rubio's resurgent support? There's this guy, Aaron Telecky, 44, the pastor of a church in Cedar Rapids, who says "I don’t know if I have any profound reasons for supporting him," but doesn't see a realistic alternative. Boy, talk about enthusiasm.
And that's the Rubio strategy: riding the "meh" wave to victory.