Who benefits from Scott Walker's early demise? Marco Rubio.
Monday — the day Scott Walker dropped out of the 2016 presidential race — was apparently a very good day for Marco Rubio. A Politico survey of "Republican insiders in Iowa and New Hampshire" reveals that 36 percent of the Iowa crowd thinks the Florida senator benefits the most from Walker's exit, followed by Ted Cruz with 16 percent. New Hampshire insiders agree about Rubio, with 38 percent tagging him as the key beneficiary of Walker's exit.
Why? In the words of one Iowa Republican, the Rubio windfall can likely be attributed to the fact that "many of Walker's early supporters were decidedly not for Bush" and for Walker backers looking for a "new conservative voice that both holds principle and has engaged to get things done," Rubio fits the bill best. "He is offensive to no one in the GOP," a New Hampshire Republican added to Politico. "As such, as candidates drop out, they may naturally gravitate to Rubio. He is the one candidate who could unify a very angry, fractured party."
Slowly but surely, Rubio has been gaining in the polls recently. He has 9.3 percent in Real Clear Politics' national polling average of the GOP race — good for fifth place in a crowded field — a marked increase from his 7.3 percent a month ago.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Michelangelo: the last decades review: an 'absorbing' exploration of art
The Week Recommends This new exhibition explores some of the less familiar work of the artist most famous for the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
By The Week UK Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A flooded town, snakes on parade, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
More home sales trigger capital gains tax. Here's how it works and how to avoid it.
The Explainer As a result of rising home values, Americans are increasingly facing this tax when they sell their homes
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published