In Volatile Phase, Republican Establishment Looks Weak
there have been fewer endorsements from party officials at this point than in any previous Republican primary.
That’s not because of an abundance of riches; it’s because the candidates who could plausibly be acceptable to party elites have big flaws and have done little to earn the support of the party or voters. All are faring poorly in the polls. Jeb Bush, Mr. Rubio and John Kasich have not clearly breached 10 percent nationally or in any of the early states.
They have other weaknesses, too. Mr. Rubio may be broadly acceptable, but his fund-raising tallies and overall campaign effort have been surprisingly limited. Mr. Kasich may be unacceptable to much of the party’s conservative wing, and his fund-raising isn’t impressive, either. Mr. Bush has healthier fund-raising tallies — though apparently not healthy enough to forestall big cuts in his campaign operation — but very weak favorability ratings.
.. Over all, no party establishment in the modern era has found itself in so weak a position at this stage in a contest.
.. In recent contests, the Republican elite has found a welcome ally in the well-educated, secular, blue-state Republicans — particularly those in New Hampshire — who have rolled their eyes at the preferred candidate of the Iowa caucuses.